DENVER, Colo. – The University North Dakota (11-16, 3-10) battled at Denver (18-7, 10-3) on Friday night as the Fighting Hawks forced the Pioneers to 17 attacking errors but were unable to capitalize on as they fell in three sets, 17-25, 25-27, 15-25.
 
 Lexi Ahrens and Lydia Rutten led UND with seven kills as Rutten led the Fighting Hawks in points with 8.5. Ahrens and Ashley Brueggeman recorded eight points on the night.
 
 "I loved the energy and fire we played with in the second set, and it all started at the end of the first. We did a great job of playing as a unit," said Head Coach Jeremiah Tiffin. "We're moving on, and we're focused on Sunday now; it's going to be a playoff game for us against South Dakota State."
 
 While the Fighting Hawks dropped the first set, they rallied back in the second set as they hit .282 as a team with only three errors on the box score in the frame. North Dakota trailed 15-7 in the set before going on an 8-2 run to take its first lead of the frame.
 
 The two teams traded leads at the end, but a Brueggeman kill knotted the match 25-25 to turn the pressure up in the match. However, the Pioneers tallied back-to-back kills to take a two-set lead into the locker room.
 
 Darian Chwialkowski added 15 digs defensively while Brueggeman registered 10 in the contest. Brueggeman also led the Fighting Hawks in blocks with three in the match while also adding a service ace alongside Taylor Riedl.
 
 North Dakota will return to action on Sunday when it hosts South Dakota State at The Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. First serve is set for 1 p.m. Central.