UND hosts Mercer for a two-night volleyball test at The Betty
A cool September breeze followed fans through the doors at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center as UND volleyball lined up across from Mercer for a Friday–Saturday doubleheader in Grand Forks. The back-to-back set offered a quick early-season gauge on home court and a reason to spend an evening on campus.
- Where: Betty Engelstad Sioux Center, UND campus, Grand Forks
- When: Friday–Saturday home series (completed this weekend)
- Matchup: University of North Dakota vs. Mercer (volleyball)
According to UND Athletics, the series paired two nonconference opponents before UND’s next road swing, giving the home side a chance to tighten rotations in front of a local crowd.
Friday night swings Mercer's way
Mercer grabbed the opener 3–1, rallying after UND took the first set and then stacking three straight to close it out, according to UND Athletics. The shift turned on serve pressure and extended rallies that tilted late, forcing North Dakota to chase from behind.
Postmatch, UND’s program notes emphasized a quick turnaround and a chance to reset first-contact and side-out numbers ahead of Saturday’s rematch, per UND Athletics. For fans, the message was simple: show up again tomorrow and see how the response looks.
Saturday’s answer: a 3–1 bounce-back
Less than 24 hours later, UND evened the weekend with a 3–1 win to split the series, according to UND Athletics. The energy felt different from the first whistle—cleaner passing, faster tempo, and steadier blocking that kept Mercer from stringing together the same long runs.
Outside hitter An den Hamer led the stat line with 13 kills while hitting .481, pacing an offense that found seams and forced out-of-system swings, per the team’s box score via UND Athletics. The crowd leaned into every late point, and the players returned the favor with a composed finish that sent folks out into the Grand Forks evening with a win to talk about.
Why the split matters now
An early-season split against a nonconference foe gives UND a useful bar to measure progress—especially on serve receive, transition scoring, and end-game composure—before Summit League play arrives. North Dakota moved to 2–3 overall after the weekend, according to UND Athletics.
Historically, the programs haven’t met often; UND now trails Mercer 1–2 all-time, per UND’s game notes cited by UND Athletics. It’s a small sample, but Saturday’s response suggests this roster can make mid-series adjustments and turn them into points when it counts at home.
Getting behind the team
If you’ve been meaning to catch a match at The Betty, this group rewards a little noise and a lot of clapping between points. Home dates, start times, and any promotions are posted by UND Athletics; check ahead for ticket availability and student entry details.
Away or busy? You can follow live stats and streaming links from the volleyball page on UND Athletics on match day. It’s an easy way to track set runs and player numbers in real time.
What to Watch
UND heads west for its next stretch of nonconference play before returning home, according to the posted schedule on UND Athletics. Keep an eye on first-contact numbers and hitting efficiency from the pins—Saturday’s template is the one they’ll want to carry on the road. Check the schedule for exact opponents, dates, and broadcast information.
