OMAHA, Neb. - Despite a fast start and an unwavering will to rally and close the scoring gap, the University of North Dakota volleyball team fell to Omaha in its Summit League opener, 26-24, 22-25, 19-25, 11-25.

Ashley Brueggeman paced the North Dakota attack with 10 kills while adding three blocks alongside Lydia Rutten who paced the squad with four. UND out blocked UNO in the match, 5-2.

"I really liked the way we started the match, and I was pleased to see the energy and pluck we opened with," said Head Coach Jeremiah Tiffin. "I have to give credit to Omaha because they did a great job of adjusting to what we were doing. Thankfully we get another chance to play volleyball on Sunday and tweak somethings and get better."

Down by five points at the halfway point of the opening set, North Dakota rallied to win the frame, 26-24, thanks to a .364 hitting percentage as it tallied 15 kills and only three errors.

After forcing six errors in the first set, UND continued to pressure Omaha and forced six more errors in the second and third. Pushing the Mavericks out of their system, North Dakota was able to find itself at the end of the attack as it registered 42 digs through the first and second sets. McKenzie Damon, who also recorded a service ace, tallied 14 digs in the first two frames.

UND finished with 56 digs in the match and seven service aces. Both Darian Chwialkowski and Peyton Sewell tallied two aces. Sewell and Julia Vetter combined for 35 assists with Sewell also pacing the team in helpers with 21.

North Dakota will return to action Sunday when it takes on South Dakota in Vermillion. First serve is set for 1 p.m.