DURHAM, N.C. - Posting a season-high in kills (55), and one of its best-attacking percentages of the season (.266), the University of North Dakota won the final three sets at North Carolina Central Thursday night, 24-26, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22.

Lexi Ahrens (16.5), Ashley Brueggeman (16.0), Darian Chwialkowski (10.0) and Lydia Rutten (14.5) all scored over 10 points in the match. Rutten led the team in blocks (7) and aces (2) while Ahrens and Brueggeman each recorded 14 kills. Ahrens paced North Dakota with a .583 hitting percentage.

"That was a solid team win tonight," said Head Coach Jeremiah Tiffin after the match. "NCCU put us in some uncomfortable situations, especially from the service line. I thought our setters did a good job finding the right hitters and never letting the other team get a good read on us. As a whole, we were pretty low error, and you've got a chance to win a lot of matches when you keep the ball in play."

The opening set was a tight affair as neither team led by more than three points. Trailing 24-22 in the opening set, North Dakota rallied back to knot the match at 24 points. However, NCCU took advantage of its reliable service to claim the set, 26-24. Brueggeman and Ahrens combined for nine kills in the frame.

Strong service from Taylor Riedl opened the second set for the Fighting Hawks as they went on to lead 15-7. The Eagles then went on 12-4 run to knot the match, but UND regained its composure and evened the match, 25-23. The middle proved to be the strength for North Dakota as both Ahrens and Rutten entered the turn with eight kills and a .583 hitting percentage.

North Dakota controlled the third set and held a 20-13 lead until NCCU began to rally back with service from Yomaries Villegas, who closed the match with four aces. Two big blocks by Brueggeman, Chwialkowski, and Rutten stopped the comeback attempt and sealed the match for UND as it claimed the third frame, 25-21.

North Carolina Central got off to a fast start in the fourth set with a 13-8 lead before a series of Eagles errors lifted the Fighting Hawks back into the match. A 5-0 rally by UND that included two aces by Rutten put the Hawks on top 20-17. The two teams traded points until North Dakota clinched the set and match, 25-22.

The Fighting Hawks will open the Comfort Inn Fuquay Invitational at Campbell Friday, Sept. 13 against The Citadel at 11 a.m. Central.