GRAND FORKS, N.D. - North Dakota won the opening set of its Saturday matinee with Kansas City, and battled in the final three sets with Roos, but could not overcome KC's precision as the Fighting Hawks fell, 26-28, 25-15, 25-17, 25-18. 

Lexi Ahrens led the match with 12 kills and 18.5 points, thanks to a career-high three aces, a solo block and five block assists. Maddy Hornyak tallied a career-best 11 kills and 17 digs for the first double-double of her collegiate career. The Fighting Hawks finished with 13 total blocks and 77 digs, 26 of which came from Madi Hart, a new career-high.
 
"I was really encouraged by today's match," said Head Coach Jeremiah Tiffin. "KC is a really good and well-coached team, and I thought we did a good job of executing our game plan this afternoon by putting pressure on their right backs and that slowed down their offense just enough for us to capitalize." 
 
Ahrens accounted for seven points in the first set, including the go-ahead point in deuce that set the table for the Fighting Hawks first-set victory. She tallied four kills, two blocks and two huge service aces as UND took a 1-0 lead in the match thanks to the 28-26 victory. A 6-0 North Dakota run separated the Hawks from the Roos to make it a 19-16 match, but a 5-1 run put KC in charge, 21-20, late in the set.

The Fighting Hawks were down 6-4 when a challenged touch ruled in favor of KC to make it a 7-3 contest in the first 10 games. Though North Dakota battled for even ground, it trailed by eight at the second period media timeout, 15-7. Following the break, the Fighting Hawks countered two more points by KC controlled the set to even the match at a set apiece, 25- .
 
Both Maddy Hornyak and Ahrens tallied six kills in the first two sets, but Ahrens entered the break with a game-high 10 points, 1.5 points better than any other player in the match thanks to four block assists.
 
The Fighting Hawks kept KC off-balance in the third set, forcing errors, and trading runs with the Roos to a 14-11 match in favor of the visitors. Service proved the difference as the Hawks setup their return perfectly and tallied an ace thanks to Ahrens' career-best third of the match. However, KC took a 2-1 lead in the match after the 25-17 victory.
 
The Hawks gameplan was effective as both Hornyak and Madi Hart finished with double-figures in digs through three with Hart posting 21 through three sets.
 
With its back against the wall, UND played with zest to open the fourth set, taking a 7-4 lead in the match after Hornyak's ninth kill. North Dakota tallied two blocks and 12 kills in the frame, it's second-best showing on the attack in the match after a 15 kill effort in the opening set.
 
The Fighting Hawks will return to action for three-straight match on the road this next week, starting at South Dakota State on Tuesday, Sept. 28.