TULSA, Okla. - An opportunity to reclaim the Summit League lead turned sour for Oral Roberts University on Thursday night as they were swept by North Dakota State University, 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-11), at the Cooper Aerobics Center. The loss drops ORU a match and a half behind NDSU in the Summit standings.

Sheina Fernandes collected nine kills to pace ORU (19-7, 12-4 Summit League) and Bruna Silva added 25 digs, but the Golden Eagles hit just .078 as a team.

The Bison (21-8, 13-2 Summit League) hit .292 on the night, including a thunderous .583 in the deciding set. Megan Lambertson paced NDSU with 11 kills, while Andrea Henning keyed the defensive effort with 19 digs.

Janna Deyle led the Bison with five blocks (one solo), while Brynn Joki had three solo efforts and four total. As a team, NDSU tallied 11 blocks, while ORU had just four.

ORU started the match in command, taking a 10-8 lead midway through the opening game. But the set turned on three straight kills by Paige Nash to give the Bison an 11-10 lead, and the road side never looked back. NDSU scored eight of the set’s final nine points to take a 25-16 victory.

Down 6-4 in the second game, a Lambertson kill swung momentum in the favor of the Bison. The blast sparked a 9-1 run that ended with NDSU ahead, 13-7. The game was never close again, with NDSU taking it by a 25-21 margin.

NDSU owned the third and final set in large part to a 14-0 run. Chrissy Knuth started the run with a kill and then added a pair of service aces as the visitors took a 22-7 lead. Though ORU fought to get back in the match, it was not to be, as NDSU clinched the win with a 25-11 triumph.

The loss is the third in a row for ORU, though the Golden Eagles have clinched a spot in the four-team Summit League Championship tournament.

ORU plays their final home match of 2011 when they host South Dakota State on Saturday. First serve is scheduled for a 7 pm.