On homecoming afternoon, the No. 16-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth volleyball team learned why Concordia University-St. Paul is the top-ranked Division II program in the country, as they were swept 3-0 (19-25, 21-25, 15-25) Saturday in front of a packed house of 1,257 rowdy fans at Romano Gymnasium.

The Bulldogs (16-6 overall; 7-3 NSIC) were outplayed in every aspect of the match, as the defending NCAA II national champion Golden Bears (21-1; 10-0) collected more kills, assists, digs and blocks, while they recorded a higher hit percentage and committed less errors in their 21st straight victory of the year.

In a match-up of top-25 teams that went back-and-fourth early on, the Bulldogs didn't take advantage of the Concordia-St. Paul miscues and made a few too many mistakes of their own, as they combined for a season-low .057 hit percentage in the tough loss to their conference rivals.

UMD freshman middle blocker April Hansen led the Bulldogs, as she tallied a match-high 14 kills, five digs and a .323 hit percentage, while senior setter Katie Gangelhoff collected 30 set assists and five digs in the loss.

Bulldog junior middle blocker Sarah Wyffels added five kills, four digs and a match-high two service aces, as senior middle blocker Lindsey Clairmont posted four kills and a match-high two block assists.

Freshman outside hitter Hannah Johnson also added four kills and three digs, while sophomore outside hitter Brenda Hansen ended the afternoon with team-highs in both hit percentage and digs, as she hit for a .500 percentage and dug six balls for the Bulldogs.

UMD will now hit the road to the Dakota's, as they are set to tango with two more Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponents. Friday (Oct. 17) the Bulldogs be is Bismarck, N.D. to collide with the University of Mary (3-18; 1-8), followed by a trip to Aberdeen, S.D. for a clash with Northern State University (12-7; 3-6) the following Saturday afternoon (Oct. 18).