The No. 2 University of Minnesota Duluth enjoyed a three-game homestand last weekend, but will embark to North Dakota for a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) matches against Minot State University and the University of Mary this Friday and Saturday nights.
The Bulldogs (16-1, 6-1 NSIC) closed out their non-conference schedule on Tuesday, finishing a perfect 10-0 after a three-set sweep of Northern Michigan. It is the fourth straight season that UMD has gone undefeated outside of NSIC play. Including the Wildcats, the Bulldogs defeated five teams that are currently first or second in their conference and just one team that is below .500 in 2013.
Now, UMD returns to the grind of the Northern Sun schedule with its longest road trip in conference play, beginning with Minot State on Friday night before traveling to U-Mary on Saturday.
The Opponents
Minot State enters the weekend with a 7-9 record (3-4 NSIC), falling to No. 6 Southwest Minn. State in straight sets last time out. Head coach Travis Ward is in his third season at the helm of the Beavers. MSU has attacked at just a .209 rate so far in 2013 but also held opponents to just a .222 hitting percentage. They have played 10 four- or five-set matches compared to five for UMD. Junior outside hitter Jen Dixon leads the Beavers offensively with 205 kills and defensively with 194 digs. Sophomore Mallory Sal has also added 189 kills from the outside hitter position. Junior setter Emily Byrne has served as the team's primary setter, tallying 513 assists so far in 2013 while also adding 17 service aces. Junior Alexis Boutin has served as the team's primary libero while posting a 3.02 digs per set average.
UMD swept the season series with Minot State in its first year with the NSIC in 2012. Last time out, the Bulldogs downed the Beavers in straight sets at Romano Gym on Nov. 9 last season.
The University of Mary enters the weekend mired in a seven-match losing streak, falling to 3-11 on the season (0-7 NSIC). Head coach Steve Novacek has led the Marauders since Dec. 2009. Mary has averaged over two blocks per set this season, good for fourth in the conference. Freshman outside hitter Alexis Jacobs leads the Marauders offensively, smacking 134 kills so far in her first go-around. Another first-year player Janell Finkbeiner plays the role of setter for U-Mary, collecting 259 assists while splitting time with senior Emily Turkowski. Sophomore middle blocker Paige Smith has tallied 51.0 total blocks already in 2013, while freshman Alex Brown has added 186 saves as the team's defensive specialist.
The Bulldogs are a perfect 8-0 all-time against the Marauders including a three-set sweep in their last meeting on Nov. 10, 2012.
The Line-Up
UMD boasts the NSIC's Defensive Player of the Week in junior libero
Julie Rainey. She continues to lead the NSIC in digs per set with a 5.22 average. She added 11 against Northern Michigan to bring her season total to 303. Rainey has served in her role for every match since her redshirt freshman season at UMD and ranks in the top-ten for defensive saves in a Bulldog career. Speaking of the career ranks, senior outside hitter
Kate Lange continues to creep up the all-time kill ranks for UMD. With 14 against Northern Michigan, she now sits 36 away from usurping Callie Zweitler ('04) for second place and just over 100 away from claiming the top spot. The Bulldogs' young blocking duo of sophomore
Monica Turner and freshman
Sydnie Mauch continue to stymie opposing hitters, accounting for 80 total blocks between the pair.
The well-tested UMD squad has posted a 10-1 record away from Romano Gym in 2013 and will look to add to that total this weekend. Friday night's match with Minot State is set for a 7:00 p.m. opening serve, and the Bulldogs return to the court less than 24 hours later as they take on U-Mary Saturday night at 6:00 p.m.
