The No. 2 University of Minnesota Duluth will don a lighter shade of red on Friday evening as they "Dig Pink for a Cure" against Minnesota State University-Moorhead before facing off with Northern State University on Saturday afternoon.
In addition to wearing pink jerseys against the Dragons, the Bulldogs (18-1, 8-1 NSIC) will host a charity event Friday. Fans will be able to purchase "Dig for a Cure" t-shirts at a cost of $10, and additional items will be available in a silent auction, including a UMD men's hockey jersey, travel care packages, Bulldog gear, a night on the town, and much more. All proceeds go to help support the Essentia Health Foundation.
UMD enters the weekend on a six-match winning streak in which they have not lost a set. UMD is also a perfect 6-0 at Romano Gym in 2013 and have not lost at home in 21 matches dating back to Nov. 12, 2011.
The Opponents
MSU-Moorhead (11-6, 4-5 NSIC) snapped a four-match winning streak last time out, defeating Bemidji State in straight sets. Head coach Tammy Blake is in her 19th season at the helm of the Dragons. Sophomore middle blocker Kaitlin VanWinkle leads the way for MSU with 196 kills in 2013, and four Dragons have hit the 100-kill plateau with one more at 99 entering this weekend. Junior Sam Sullivan has served as the team's primary setter with 425 assists. Sophomore Amber Krenske has served as the team's primary libero with 189 defensive saves but freshman Katie Meyers leads the way with 224 digs on the year. As a team, the Dragons have hit .202 on the season, but held opponents to a .155 kill percentage, good for second in the NSIC.
UMD is 55-12 all-time against the Dragons, sweeping the season series in 2012 in a pair of five-set battles.
Northern State University received votes in this week's AVCA poll as they enter the weekend at 11-3 (6-3 NSIC). NSU has won three straight after falling in three of four. Head coach Brent Aldridge leads the Wolves in his third season as head coach. NSU has the fourth-best hitting percentage in the NSIC at .274 as a team. Sophomore outside hitter Kelsey Chambers has been an offensive force, collecting 229 kills in 2013, an average of 4.16 per set. Freshman outside hitter Tori Biach is second in the conference with a .412 hitting percentage. Sophomore Drew Smith has served as Northern's primary setter, collecting 643 of the team's 702 assists so far this season. Senior Sami Nygaard plays the role of libero, hauling in 245 defensive digs on the year.
The Bulldogs are 46-1 all-time against Northern State, downing them by a 3-1 final to complete a season sweep on Oct. 27 last season.
After a pair of matches on the Romano Gym floor, UMD travels to St. Cloud State on Tuesday evening. The Bulldogs swept the Huskies in their first meeting on Sept. 24 (
box score), and are now 64-33 all-time against SCSU.
The Bulldogs
UMD has hit the stretch run of the conference schedule but currently ranks second in the nation in hitting percentage (.314) and fourth in kills per set (14.89). Senior outside hitter
Kate Lange leads the way with 5.30 kills per set. Last weekend, she moved into second all-time at UMD with 1,762 for her career. She sits just 81 behind first-place Vicky Braegelman. Also on the offensive end, sophomore
Monica Turner ranks third in the NSIC in kill percentage at .409.
Junior libero
Julie Rainey also continues to climb up the all-time ranks at UMD. Her 1,475 career digs puts her at fifth-best for a Bulldog career and just over 200 away from the top spot; she also tops the NSIC with a 5.22 per-game average. Sophomore setter
Ashley Hinsch is fourth in the nation in assists per game with 12.38 and is 94 away from overtaking the eighth spot in UMD's career ranks.
The Bulldogs take the floor at Romano Gym for the "Dig Pink" game against MSU-Moorhead at 7:00 p.m. Saturday's match with Northern State is set for a 4:00 p.m. opening serve.
