Box Score The University of Minnesota Duluth made quick work of its NCAA Central Regional Opening Round match-up with Arkansas Tech University with a three-set win at Romano Gym.

The Bulldogs (32-2) scored 12 of the first 15 points in the opening set and never looked back as they collected  victories at 25-16, 25-13, 25-16 to advance to the second round and a match-up with Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rival Southwest Minnesota State, who defeated Washburn University in five sets earlier in the evening at Romano Gym.

Sophomore setter Ashley Hinsch distributed the ball evenly as UMD hit .311 on the night. Hinsch had 36 assists as three Bulldogs notched double-digit kills. Senior outside hitter Kate Lange led the way with 14, while freshman middle blocker Sydnie Mauch hit .417 with 11 kills and junior right-side hitter Maddy Siroin added 12.

Defensively, UMD held the Golden Suns (25-12), champions of the Great American Conference, to an .078 hitting percentage. The Bulldogs had three total blocks, all solo, including two by Lange. Junior libero Julie Rainey hauled in 24 digs to lead UMD while Lange finished off a double-double with 10 of her own.

On the other side of the bracket, Concordia University, St. Paul downed Northern State University in straight sets and second-seed University of Central Missouri snuck past the University of Nebraska Kearney in five sets. Opening serve with the Golden Bears and Jennies is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Friday night, with the Bulldogs and Mustangs scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m.