CLEMSON, S.C. – Following the University of North Dakota volleyball team's 3-2 win over Troy on Friday afternoon, Head Coach Mark Pryor noted that the 2018 version of the Fighting Hawks are like a roller coaster, and Friday's ride was a triumphant one as UND defeated the Trojans, 25-20, 15-25, 25-22, 19-25, 15-12, in the opening contest of the Big Orange Bash in Clemson.
 
"That was a hard fought match with four freshmen on the floor," said Pryor. "We weren't pretty, but life isn't about pretty. It's about getting it done. It was nice to see us battle. Tomorrow gets tougher."
 
Jordan Vail led the way for the Fighting Hawks (5-3), collecting a team-high 14 kills on just 23 swings for a .522 hitting percentage. The senior also recorded six block assists to share the match lead.
 
"Jordan did a great job for us today, and we had 4 hitters with double digit kills, so that was nice to see," echoed Pryor.
 
Kayla Williams tallied her fifth double-double of the season with 12 kills and 12 digs. The junior transfer also added five rejections and an assist for another strong all-around performance for the green and white.
 
Ashley Brueggeman continues to be a steady force on the right side for the Hawks, reaching double figures in kills for the second time in the last three matches with 12 kills. The junior anchored the defense with a trio of block assists to match a season-high 12 rejections for the squad.
 
Brynn Nieukirk posted a new career high in kills in Friday's win, also collecting 12. The freshman chipped in two block assists and swung a season-high 40 times in the victory.
 
Fresh off a MVP performance at the UND Classic last weekend, Roosa Rautio notched her fourth double-double of her career with 43 assists and 12 digs. The Finland native also teamed up with Vail for a huge block assist to clinch a set for North Dakota.
 
Taliyah Flores also reached a new career high as the freshman dug 17 balls to tie for the match lead. Flores added two assists and a service ace to help the Hawks to victory.
 
Friday marks the first victory for UND when getting outhit by its opponent as the Trojans (4-3) hit .246 to just .219 for North Dakota. The five-set win also is the 19th under Pryor in just 27 tries and the first triumph of the season when going the distance.
 
"I just have to realize that we are gonna be on a roller coaster ride for a while," said Pryor. "I think as fans we all just need to buckle up and embrace it. There will be lots of ups and downs... we just have to roll with it, keep our focus on the immediate focal points, and not the end game. So buy a ticket, come on out to the Betty, and jump on board and ride this season with us."
 
Both teams came out attacking in the opening set until UND used a 6-2 run in the middle of the frame to build a 15-10 lead and force a Troy timeout. From there, the Hawks continued to maintain their lead, never letting the Trojans get closer than three en route to a 25-20 win capped off by a Vail and Rautio double block.
 
In the second, it was Troy who came out with conviction by grabbing an 8-4 advantage before UND began to crawl back into the stanza. The Hawks whittled the deficit down to one on multiple occasions, but the Trojans tallied 11 of the set's last 13 points to even the match at one with a 25-15 win.
 
The third set followed a similar script to the opening, with the teams trading points until a UND run pushed the game open. Leading 16-14, the Hawks were pushed forward by a Lexi Ahrens kill, Rautio ace, Nieukirk and Williams kills, and back-to-back blocks to break the set wide open to a 22-15 lead. Troy closed the gap down to 24-22, but Vail polished off the period with a kill for the 25-22 triumph and a 2-1 match lead.
 
With another back-and-forth set brewing, Troy used a late run in the fourth set to pull ahead for good and send the match to a decisive fifth set with a 25-19 victory.
 
Being challenged all season by Pryor to close matches when given the opportunity, UND came out firing in the fifth by scoring seven of the first nine points to jump out to a 7-2 lead and force a Troy timeout. The Trojans quickly cut the advantage down to 8-6, but Brueggeman paced the offense in the stanza with a pair of big kills to extend the lead back to five at 12-7. Troy would not go quietly; however, trimming the score to 14-12, but Brueggeman and Vail teamed up for a final rejection to clinch the match.
 
North Dakota is back in action tomorrow with a pair of showdowns to conclude the Big Orange Bash. The Fighting Hawks will take on UAB at 9 a.m. before squaring off with the host Tigers at 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.