BUIES CREEK, N.C. - The University of North Dakota split the first day of the Comfort Inn Fuquay Invitational at Campbell University as it defeated The Citadel in four sets (25-16, 26-28, 25-19, 25-18) and fell to the host Camels (15-25, 5-25, 23-25).

Lydia Rutten registered her first double-double of the season against the Cadets with 14 kills and 14 blocks. Rutten also totaled two aces and hit .481 to lead UND. Ashley Brueggeman also recorded 10 blocks in the match while adding four kills.

"We had some highs, and we had some lows today, but I'm pleased with the effort I saw," said Head Coach Jeremiah Tiffin. "We came out aggressive in our first match and played with an edge that can serve us well as we progress in the season. We didn't have that same energy to start the night against Campbell, but I was proud of the way we responded. We'll look to finish the weekend on a high note tomorrow before we come back to North Dakota."

North Dakota will close the weekend tomorrow at 9 a.m., when it takes on South Carolina State.

THE CITADEL (1-3) VS NORTH DAKOTA (6-4)
The Fighting Hawks defense was in its prime against The Citadel as they out-blocked the Cadets, 18-3, and posted 77 digs to win in four sets.

Julia Vetter led North Dakota in the opening set as she posted three of the Hawks six service aces in the set. She would finish with four in the match as the Fighting Hawks won 25-16.

After Campbell won the second set, 28-26, North Dakota rallied back in the third frame 25-19, as Rutten registered her double-double before the fourth set. Darian Chwialkowski and McKenzie Damon also posted 18 digs and 13 digs, respectively, through three games.

UND took the final set as four different Fighting Hawks finished with 10-or-more digs. Chwialkowski led with 23 while Damon recorded 18, and Madi Hart and Taylor Riedl each registered 11 digs.

As a team, UND posted 10 service aces and held the Camels to a .112 hitting percentage in the match, including a .000 clip in the final set.

NORTH DAKOTA (6-5) VS CAMPBELL (3-4)
Campbell was the aggressor in their tournament opener as they posted a .322 hitting percentage in the first two sets and only registered five hitting errors. The Camels would win the match in three sets, despite a tough fight by North Dakota in the third.

The Fighting Hawks rallied back after the turn as they minimized their attack errors, committing only three as they built a 19-14 lead. Campbell turned up the pressure at the end of the frame however as they forced four UND attack errors and completed its comeback to sweep the match, 25-23.

Rutten and Brueggeman each posted six kills while Ahrens and Riedl added five.