Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs slipped to the No. 3 spot in the latest AVCA Top 25 poll, but that didn't deter the Bulldogs from downing the Northern State University Wolves in straight sets (25-19, 25-18, 25-19) Friday night in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference volleyball action.

With the loss, the Wolves slipped to 13-11 overall and 5-10 in NSIC play, while the Bulldogs, one of four NSIC teams ranked in the top five in the nation, improved to 21-2 on the year and 13-2 in conference play.

After a nip-and-tuck start to the night, the Bulldogs took control midway through the first set.  NSU forced the eighth tie of the stanza on a Jordan Schaffer service ace, but UMD responded with a 5-0 run that put the Bulldogs on top for the duration.  The Wolves closed to within four at 18-22, but it was too little, too late.

UMD took control early in the second set, racing out to a 13-5 lead to open and never letting the Wolves get closer than six the rest of the way, taking a 2-0 advantage into the break.

The Wolves came out of the intermission with renewed energy, rallying from an early 3-0 deficit to keep pace with the Bulldogs through an 11-11 tie.  Another five-point run by the Bulldogs, however, spelled the beginning of the end for NSU, as UMD powered its way to the set and match victory.

NSU senior Katy Oelke had nine kills on 16 attempts to pace the Wolves.  Fellow senior Whitney Morsching added eight, but the Wolves hurt themselves by committing 19 attacking errors and five blocking miscues while hitting just .198 at the net.

UMD, meanwhile, committed just eight errors on the attack and posted a .398 team hitting percentage.  Kate Lange led the way with a match-high 17 kills.

The Wolves are back in action on Saturday with a 5 p.m. match-up against Bemidji State University.  That match will also be held in the Strode Center on the campus of Presentation College due to scheduling conflicts at the Barnett Center.