Box Score There is no place like playing at home for the University of Minnesota Duluth.
The second ranked Bulldogs (14-1, 5-1 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) continued to show their dominance at Romano Gymnasium, sweeping their fourth consecutive home match to start the 2013 season with a 25-17, 25-22, 25-19 over the University of Upper Iowa (6-9, 2-4 NSIC) Friday night. UMD is 8-0 lifetime against Upper Iowa, and has now won 19 home contests in a row, 17 of those coming via straight-set victories.
The Bulldogs stormed out and established control from the start, only trailing 12 times throughout the night. UMD held an early 10-3 advantage in the second set before Upper Iowa closed it to within two (15-13). Each team would trade sideouts for the remainder of the set. After trailing for a portion of the third set, UMD captured the lead and closed out the final set on a 9-3 run.
Senior outside hitter
Kate Lange led all players with 17 kills. The native of Hibbing, Minn., also edged her way pass Joclyn Young (1,696) for third all-time in kills with 1,697. Callie Zwettler (1,757) and Vicky Bragegelmann (1,843) are the only two ex-Bulldogs ahead of Lange on the all-time chart.
The Bulldogs swung at a .286 clip while holding down the Peacocks, who had two attackers with 11-plus kills, to a mere .184 average. The only other Bulldog to produce double-digit kills was sophomore middle blocker
Monica Turner, who collected 11 kills on 22 swings. Sophomore setter
Ashley Hinsch dished out 44 assists and provided the Bulldogs with one ace.
The defense was lead by junior libero
Julie Rainey, who notched 16 digs on the night. Junior outside hitter
Katie Ledwell, who dropped in two aces of her own, and Lange each tallied 12 digs, respectively.
Sydnie Mauch, a native of Brainerd, Minn., denied the Peacock attack three times on the night, leading the front line. In only 12 games of action, the freshman middle blocker has had three or more blocks in half of her matches and continues to lead the team in blocks per set at 0.91.
UMD will be back at Romano Gymnasium tomorrow for the second game of a three-game home stand when they lock horns with Winona State University. The Bulldogs boasts a 68-1 all-time record over the Warriors. Game time is slated for 4 p.m.
