GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Down 2-1 after the third set, the University of North Dakota rallied to take the final two frames to win its home-opener against Eastern Washington at The Betty Engelstad Sioux Center, 21-15, 25-21, 21-25, 25-23, 15-9. The Fighting Hawks improved to 8-5 on the year while the Eagles fell to 2-9.

Lydia Rutten led all attackers with 18 kills and a .455 hitting percentage while Ashley Brueggeman recorded 11 kills and 11 digs, becoming the 18th player in North Dakota history to reach the 1,000 kills club. She was one of five players to record double figures in digs as the Hawks tallied 88 digs, led by MecKenzie Damon's 20.

UND has now won six-straight home-opening matches at The Betty. Both teams combined for 51 attacking errors and 18 blocks in the match.

"We fed off the energy when we needed to, and that's the advantage of playing at home," said Head Coach Jeremiah Tiffin. "Our crowd was fantastic and helped carry us through. Lydia was excellent and kept us in the match while our service set up our attack in the final two sets and was a large part of our victory tonight.

The Eagles and Fighting Hawks split the first two sets and played a tight third frame that ultimately went to EWU, 25-21.

In the fourth set, with Rutten demanding the Eagles attention, Brueggeman took over in the frame and registered her 10th kill to put UND on top, 20-19, reaching 1,000 career kills in the process. North Dakota stood firm to Eastern Washington's attempt to clinch the match but ultimately forced the fifth set with a 25-23 triumph.

The Fighting Hawks jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the fifth set to build the crowd's energy and stifle the Eagles huddles and bench. UND would stymy EWU's comeback attempt and take the final frame and the match, 15-8.

North Dakota will close the UND Classic tomorrow night when it hosts Akron at 7:30 p.m. The Eagles will open day two at 12:30 p.m., versus the Zips.