TULSA, Okla. – With its back against wall, the University of North Dakota (2-2, 2-0 Summit) rallied to force a fifth set and defeat Oral Roberts (0-4, 0-2 Summit) for a five-set series sweep, 25-16, 18-25, 13-25, 25-20, 15-10. It was the first time since Sept. 26 and 28, 2018 versus ORU and North Dakota State that UND won back-to-back matches in five sets.
 
Taylor Riedl and Lexi Ahrens tallied 16 kills and 14 kills, respectively, against the Golden Eagles with Ahrens also recording three blocks and a hitting percentage of .303. The Hawks held advantages in both blocks (11-8) and service aces (11-8). While Riedl also registered her first double-double of the season with 13 digs in addition, Kelly Wahl recorded seven blocks assists with six kills and a .462 hitting percentage. Darian Chwialkowski registered 26 digs to lead UND.
 
The Fighting Hawks opened the match with a torrid pace, running out to an early lead with a 25-16 advantage as they forced ORU into 11 errors in the set. The two teams battled in the second frame but the Golden Eagles ran away with the set on 16 kills and a .261 hitting percentage, 25-18. While UND responded with a hitting percentage 48-points higher in the third set, Oral Roberts recorded a dominant .400 hitting percentage to make short work of the Hawks, 25-13.
 
North Dakota quickly found itself in a 4-1 hole in the fourth set but responded with a 6-4 advantage and continued to build its leads to a 14-8 edge and a 17-10 advantage. ORU made one last push, making it a three-point match by applying pressure with the attacks of Sylvia Lawson and Jaxie Waxley; but the Fighting Hawks prevailed as Riedl and McAllister Gayle sealed the set with emphatic kills to force a fifth set, 25-20.
 
With the momentum on their side, UND played its most-efficient volleyball of the match, tallying eight kills and a .286 attacking percentage. The effort allowed the Fighting Hawks to overcome the Golden Eagles 6-4 advantage and finish the match on a 7-2 run and improve to 2-0 in conference play for the first time since the program's record setting 30-win season in 2017.
 
North Dakota will host its first matches of the season next weekend when it hosts reigning Summit League Regular Season Champion South Dakota, who earned two votes in the latest AVCA Division I Coaches Poll. First serve on Sunday, Feb. 7 is set for 1 p.m. Central and will air on MidcoSN.