MACOMB, Ill. – After dropping its first two sets, the University of North Dakota (2-13, 2-11 Summit) rallied to force a fourth set at Western Illinois (1-13 Summit) but could not force a fifth as the Fighting Hawks fell to the Leathernecks, 19-25, 10-25, 25-15, 18-25.

Alexa Albinson tallied six kills and led the team with a .333 hitting percentage, while Lexi Ahrens led the Hawks with nine kills. Redshirt freshman Sofia Hedqvist recorded season-best six kills off the bench. Darian Chwialkowski registered 23 digs defensively while fellow back linemate Claire Wagner made her Fighting Hawk debut.

Western Illinois and North Dakota battled in the opening set, trading blows and runs to an 18-18 tie that the Fighting Hawks equalized following a WIU serving error. However, the Leathernecks went on a 5-0 run to take a 23-18 lead. Though they recorded another service error, they outscored the Hawks 7-1 to take the opening frame.

That momentum carried over into the second set as Western Illinois took a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-10 second set victory. The Leathernecks outhit the Fighting Hawks in the set, .481-.000.

In the match extending third set, UND hit .278 and held WIU to a clip of -.024 as the Fighting Hawks tallied a team-best 14 kills in the set, led by Taylor Riedl's four kills and the freshman duo of Elizabeth Norris and Albinson, who both recorded three kills. Albinson and Norris also combined for two blocks in the set to rally North Dakota back, 25-15.

The Leathernecks regained their composure in the fourth set as they quickly found themselves in front 10-5 and then 14-6. UND climbed back within five, 19-14, as Ahrens recorded two kills and the Leathernecks registered two attacking errors. A 5-3 run by WIU ended the match as the Leathernecks won their first match of the season.

The series will close tomorrow afternoon with WIU and UND serving at 5 p.m. It will be the Fighting Hawks' final road match of the season as they'll host North Dakota State on March 27 and 28 at The Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.