CHENEY, Wash. -- Host Eastern Washington earned its first-ever win over North Dakota in a 3-0 sweep (25-22, 25-17, 25-23) victory Thursday evening in the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams.

UND (11-6, 0-1 Big Sky) had three different players with nine kills or more led by junior Chelsea Moser's 10 kills. Freshman Courtney Place and sophomore Faith Dooley each added nine kills for North Dakota.

“We were never really in this one and I give total credit to EWU for out-competing us and definitely playing a cleaner match,” UND head coach Mark Pryor said.

The match featured 19 tie scores and 10 lead changes throughout the three sets, but EWU (6-6, 1-0) was able to pull in front in each of the frames to earn the win. In the first, it was tight until a 6-1 Eagle run put them in front by five. UND was able to rally to get back within one late, but Eastern Washington posted a 25-22 set one victory.

In the second, it was a 7-3 set-ending spurt after the score was 18-14 that propelled EWU to a two-sets-to-none lead.

The final frame saw UND lead 12-8 that the Eagles immediately answered with six of the next seven points. The score would be tied six more times in that set before an Allie Schumacher kill and ace completed the victory for the home team.

The Eagles improved to 2-0 at home on the season while North Dakota was handed just its second loss in its last 12 matches. EWU hit .290 for the match.

North Dakota plays at Idaho Saturday with the match beginning at 3:00 p.m. Central.