Box Score

DULUTH, Minn. – The Northern State volleyball squad, beginning a stretch of five ranked opponents of their next six, fell in straight sets to fourth-ranked Minnesota-Duluth on Friday evening to begin Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.
 
The Bulldogs claimed a 25-17, 25-14, 25-14 victory to run their season mark to 10-0 overall (1-0 NSIC).  NSU fell to 5-4 on the season (0-1 NSIC).
 
Led by 54 digs and six blocks, the host Bulldogs held NSU to just 21 kills and a .082 hitting percentage on the night.  Six of those kills came from freshman Jussy Tuscherer, who came off the bench for 26 swings.  No other NSU player was able to manage more than four kills in the match.
 
UMD got 21 kills from senior Kate Lange, who put down nearly half of Ashley Hinsch's 46 set assists on the night.
 
The Wolves will regroup to face unranked St. Cloud State on Saturday, their lone un-ranked opponent in the opening stretch of NSIC play.  First serve in St. Cloud is set for 3 p.m.