NEW ORLEANS – Hitting an impressive .325 as a team and forcing 25 Louisiana Monroe attacking errors, the University of North Dakota's balanced approach led the Fighting Hawks to claim the final three sets against the Warhawks, 20-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-22.
Ashley Brueggeman tallied 15 kills and a .462 clip, to finish as one of three UND players with 10 kills.
The Fighting Hawks finished second place at the New Orleans Tournament, despite beating tournament champion ULM but played more sets than the Warhawks in the match.
"We passed the ball really well and that was a big part of our success as team today," said Head Coach
Jeremiah Tiffin. "We showed a lot of toughness and we grew as a team throughout this tournament. These are the kinds of steps we need to take as a team to compete in The Summit League."
Brueggeman's presence in the first set was a force for North Dakota as she a hit a perfect 5-for-5 on the attack to pace the Fighting Hawks. However, ULM's physical attack countered UND's efficient right side as it recorded 19 kills with a .342 attack percentage to win the frame, 25-20.
North Dakota responded in the second set and countered back at the Warhawks, hitting .478 with 13 kills as
Darian Chwialkowski and
Lydia Rutten accounted for seven kills in the set. 13 was the lucky number for the Fighting Hawks as they closed the set on a 13-3 run to tie the match, 25-15.
The team continued to stand resolute on the attack and in defense as nine of the 10 players in the lineup accounted for a kill through the third set.
Madi Hart, who finished the match with one service ace, was the only UND player that appeared that did not record a kill. The Hawks won the frame, 25-17.
Louisiana Monroe made one final push in the fourth set but North Dakota showed resiliency at the end to take the set and the match, 25-22.
Lydia Rutten closed the day with 10 blocks and five kills, while Chwialkowski registered her second consecutive double-double with 10 kills and 15 digs.
Brueggeman hit .462 in the match with a team-best 15 kills, while also tallying two blocks. As a team, North Dakota registered eight blocks.
The Fighting Hawks will return to action Sept. 1 when it takes on Mississippi Valley State at 1 p.m. Central.
