Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. - The Northern State Wolves put up a fight to the bitter end, but could not find a way to quiet the fifth-ranked Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Saturday afternoon, as UMD took a 3-1 win (25-16, 23-25, 25-20, 25-21) away from the Wolves in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference volleyball action.

The loss was just NSU's fourth at home this season.  The Wolves, still winners of eight of their last ten, stand at 14-10 overall and 9-7 in NSIC play with four matches left in the regular season.  UMD claimed its sixth straight win and 10th in its last 11 matches, improving to 23-2 overall and 14-2 in the loop.

The Bulldogs controlled the tempo early, keeping NSU out of rhythm and riding the strong play of junior outside hitter Kate Lange, who had six kills on eight swings, to the win in the opening set.

NSU responded in the second set in typical NSU fashion, rallying from 18-14 down to take a 22-19 lead.  The Bulldogs commited three straight errors at the net in the run, which began with a Kaleinani Kabalis kill and ended with another UMD miscue, this time coming in the form of a ball handling error by setter Ashley Hinsch.

After a kill by Lange temporarily halted the bleeding, NSU earned serve for set point after a Macey Finizio kill and another Hinsch ball handling error.  The Bulldogs rallied with three straight points, forcing two NSU time-outs before freshman Kelsey Chambers closed out the set with a kill to send the teams into the break tied at one set apiece.

The Bulldogs withstood similar NSU rallies in the third and fourth sets, but the Wolves could close no closer than one point in the third and two points in the fourth as UMD escaped with the 3-1 match victory.

NSU was led by Chambers' 13 kills and 12 digs.  Senior middle blocker Chelsea Chavez had five kills and six blocks for the Wolves, while Finizio finished with seven kills. 

Lange led all players with 19 kills for the Bulldogs.

NSU hits the road on Thursday for its final road match of the season, heading to Minot State for a 7 p.m. match.  The Wolves return home on Sunday to host U-Mary in a 4 p.m. match-up and close out the regular season in two weeks against Bemidji State and Minnesota, Crookston.