FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Wrapping up a stretch of 10 straight matches away from Grand Forks, including showdowns in four-different states, the University of North Dakota volleyball team fell, 3-0, to Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday afternoon.
 
"A loss is a loss, but I see some really encouraging signs," said Head Coach Mark Pryor. "As we continue to become a steadier team, I can see us in a position to be successful in matches like that.
 
Jordan Vail led the Fighting Hawks (9-8, 1-1 Summit League) with 12 kills on just 24 swings for a .417 hitting percentage. The senior also added two solo rejections and a pair of block assists to pace UND's five total swats on the afternoon.
 
Ashley Brueggeman also reached double figures in kills for the Hawks, recording 11 but her .188 clip was only the third time this season that the junior has hit below the .200 mark.
 
Kayla Williams continues to collect double-doubles for the visitors, turning in her 12th of the year with 10 kills and 10 digs. The transfer also posted a service ace and a block assist in the losing effort.
 
Roosa Rautio's 36 assists led the team as the freshman continues to move her assist per set average to above the 10-plateau while also collecting eight digs. Taliyah Flores finished with the top-dig total again for the Hawks with 15, her lowest total since Sept. 8 at Clemson. Tamika Brekke also tallied another service ace, her fourth straight game with an ace.
 
"Purdue Fort Wayne is one of the four teams that I thought could win the league this year," said Pryor. "I stand by that. That's why I'm encouraged. We just have to keep inching closer and closer to being that really solid team I know we can become."
 
In the first set, Purdue Fort Wayne (10-5, 1-0 Summit League) hit a game-high .441 while also forcing seven attack errors from UND to capture a 25-21 victory in the opening frame. Trailing by as many as eight, the Hawks battled back late in the stanza by using a 4-1 run to shave the deficit down to 24-21, but the Mastodons held on for the triumph.
 
The second frame was a back-and-forth affair for a majority of it, with both sides taking leads. Tied at 13, Purdue Fort Wayne rattled off six of the next eight points to create some separation and build a 19-15 advantage. UND again tried to rally, receiving kills from Brueggeman and Brynn Nieukirk to whittle the lead down to 24-22; however, Nicole Rightnowar ended the set with one of her game-high 18 kills to give the hosts a 25-22 victory and a 2-0 match lead.
 
Looking to push the contest into a fourth set, UND came out attacking in the frame. After dropping the first point, the Hawks took control of the stanza and carried the momentum throughout. After a Brekke service ace gave the visitors a 14-11 lead, Vail answered with a huge solo rejection to push the advantage to 15-11 and force a Purdue Fort Wayne timeout.
 
Following another Vail kills to extend the lead to 18-13, the Mastodons turned the tide of the match with a 9-0 run, led by five kills from Rightnowar, to go in front 22-18. UND answered with three of the next four points to cut the advantage down to 24-22 again, but Purdue Fort Wayne held on for the victory and the sweep.
 
North Dakota finally returns home to the friendly confines of the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center for a trio of matches beginning on Wednesday against in-state rival North Dakota State at 7 p.m. The Fighting Hawks will also battle Oral Roberts on Friday at 7 p.m. and South Dakota State on Saturday at 4 p.m.