GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Despite winning set one 26-24 and holding a 16-14 edge in kills following the opening set, North Dakota fell in four sets (24-26, 25-10, 25-7, 25-21) to Denver (14-2, 5-1 Summit) at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center on Saturday afternoon. 

Lexi Ahrens led UND (1-18, 0-7 Summit) offensively with 10.5 points, followed by Kelly Wahl with eight. Ahrens recorded eight kills and four blocks (one solo, three assisted), while Wahl put down six kills and three blocks (one solo, two assisted). McCallister Gayle also added six kills on the afternoon.

Elizabeth Norris and Kortney Carney split setting duties and dished out 14 and 12 assists, respectively.

Maddy Hornyak topped the defensive effort with 22 digs and 23 receptions.

North Dakota opened set one with a 5-3 advantage, powered by a pair of kills by Gayle. The Fighting Hawks continued battling and had the 10-8 lead after an Alexa Albinson kill and a termination from Wahl. The teams continued consistent play until the media timeout where UND led 15-14. Both North Dakota and Denver continued trading runs and points until a pair of attack errors by Denver put North Dakota up 20-17. The Pioneers fought their way back into the set to tie the match at 24-24. Two Denver attack errors ended set one and gave North Dakota the 26-24 win. The Fighting Hawks held a 16-14 edge in kills following the opening set.

In the second frame, Denver jumped out ot a 14-4 lead early and never surrendered the lead, picking up set two by a tally of 25-10.

Set three looked similar to set two with the Pioneers leading the entire way and winning the set by a score of 25-7.

The Fighting Hawks trailed set four early, 12-6. Kills from Taylor Pribyl, Ahrens and Albinson sparked the North Dakota offense and helped the Fighting Hawks knot the tally up at 17-17 midway through the set. Denver reclaimed the lead with a few kills and reclaimed the advantage at 22-20. DU finished the match on a 3-0 run to take the set and the match, winning set four (25-21).

North Dakota will visit South Dakota on Monday. Opening serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Vermillion.