All three sets were closely contested until long runs provided the distance for the Fighting Hawks. In the first, UTEP led 17-15 until North Dakota ended the set on a 10-2 run to secure a 25-19 set win. In the second, the Miners again led by three at 10-7 until UND scored 15 of the next 18 points to eventually grab a 25-18 win in that frame. It was an 8-2 spurt midway through the third set that helped UND again erase a three-point lead before back-to-back kills Chelsea Moser and Tamara Merseli ended the match with a 25-21 score.

"I thought tonight might have been one of our worst offensI've outputs but defensively, we out-dug an opponent so our defense is getting better," UND head coach Mark Pryor said. "We also got a chance to get some kids in to get some time, so that was nice. We'll take it. Tomorrow is going to be a tough test, Texas Tech is big."

Vail's kill total was her highest in a UND uniform and she has now produced 17 kills in her two starts (at South Dakota). Merseli had a half-dozen kills in the final set alone to give her nine on the evening. Ashley Brueggeman added eight kills while Sydney Griffin had a double-double with 35 assists and 10 digs and Alivia Fraase charted 15 digs.

North Dakota will host Texas Tech Saturday at 7:00 p.m.