GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota battled with a much improved Oral Roberts squad, hanging tight in the final two sets and going down to the wire. However, late runs by the Golden Eagles (7-2, 1-0 Summit) proved to be the difference as the Fighting Hawks (1-12, 0-1 Summit) fell in three, 25-17, 25-22, 25-22.
Lexi Ahrens led UND with eight kills, but it was
McCallister Gayle that starred for the Hawks as she recorded seven kills with a .600 hitting percentage. Both Ahrens and Gayle accounted for two block assists as they finished with nine and eight points, respectively.
Both teams were near even in digs as Oral Roberts led, 51-50.
Madi Hart's 12 digs, along with
Sofia Hedqvist's 10 paced the Fighting Hawks back row.
North Dakota opened with a blistering pace in the first set, taking a 3-0 lead before ORU countered and went on a 6-1 run to lead 8-4. UND rallied back to within two points, 13-11, but the Golden Eagles extended its lead to eight to win the opening frame.
Oral Roberts commanded the second set early but North Dakota countered to tie the match, 19-19, thanks an ORU service error and
Taylor Pribyl service ace to start the 5-0 run. Coach's challenges by
Jeremiah Tiffin also proved to be the difference in momentum as UND won two challenges in the set. Both the Hawks and Eagles traded errors to a 22-22 tie before Oral Roberts finished the set on a 3-0 run.
The Fighting Hawks would not quit in the final set as they never trailed by more than four points in the final set. Rallying back behind the arms of Ahrens, Gayle and Pribyl, who combined for 10 of North Dakota's 14 kills in the set.
The Fighting Hawks will close the weekend on Saturday, Sept. 25 when it hosts Kansas City at 1 p.m.
