GRAND FORKS, N.D. - With consistency in the backline, at the net, and on the attack, the University of North Dakota defeated Western Illinois in its Summit League home opener in four sets on Homecoming weekend, 25-21, 25-17, 14-25, 25-22. Both Darien Chwialkowski and McKenzie Damon posted 19 digs while Ashley Brueggeman recorded a new career-high 19 kills.

UND played some of its best volleyball of the season in the first two sets as it tallied 29 kills and only one error for a .395 hitting percentage. The Hawks also forced Western Illinois 12 errors in the frames and into a total of 25 in the match.

"We couldn't have played any better in those first two sets," said Head Coach Jeremiah Tiffin. "We attacked really well, we stuck to our system and dug out some balls to keep momentum on our side."

At intermission, North Dakota had three players - Lexi Ahrens, Brynn Nieukirk, and Brueggeman - hitting over .400 with four kills. Brueggeman led all attackers with 10, while Ahrens recorded six. Defensively, the Fighting Hawks had three blocks and 36 digs and held the Leathernecks to a hitting percentage of .098 in the second frame.

While Western Illinois responded in the third and forced UND out of its system to take the frame, 25-14, the Hawks built a wall around the net in the fourth set as they recorded four blocks. The North Dakota attack also put WIU into low-percentage attack situations as it hit below .200 in the set (.143).

Beginning the final set with seven kills, Ahrens finished the night with 11 and hit .579 in the contest as she did not commit an error. The Virginia, Minn., native also recorded three blocks and a service ace to tally 13.5 points.

Brueggeman led the match with 20.5 points on 19 kills and two blocks, including a solo stuff.

The University of North Dakota, who improved to 9-8 on the season and 1-2 in Summit League play, will return to action on Sunday to host Purdue Fort Wayne. First serve is set for 1 p.m., on Fox Sports North PLUS.