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The No. 2 University of Minnesota Duluth volleyball team continued its season-opening unbeaten streak with a pair of three-set sweeps over host University of Wis.-Parkside and Lewis University to close out the UW-Parkside Tournament on Saturday.
In the first match of the afternoon, the Bulldogs saw themselves in a tight first set knotted up at 10 apiece with the host Rangers of Wis.-Parkside, but UMD pulled away for an eventural 25-17 first-set victory. The second set saw the Bulldogs jump out to an early 9-3 lead before the Rangers scored three straight to pull within 9-6. It would be the only time that Parkside would go on a multi-point run in the set as UMD rolled to a 25-12 win.
The Bulldogs again pulled ahead early in the third set, leading 13-6 before the Rangers went on a five-point streak to pull within two. After a timeout by UMD head coach
Jim Boos, the score remained close as the teams traded points but the Bulldogs would hold off Parkside for a 25-23 win to close out the match.
Junior middle blocker
Maddy Siroin had an impressive match on the offensive end with eight kills on ten attacks and just one error. Senior outside hitter
Kate Lange added 11 kills to lead UMD offensively. Junior
Katie Ledwell led the way with 13 digs while also adding five kills and five assists. Sophomore setter
Ashley Hinsch had 25 assists to lead the way for UMD in that category, while junior libero
Julie Rainey added 10 digs of her own.
The Bulldogs moved to 8-0 in the tournament finale Saturday evening, making quick work of the Lewis Flyers with set scores of 25-14, 25-20, and 25-10. As a team, UMD posted a .412 attack percentage and just two reception errors in the match. Lange added 12 kills to bring her season total to 168 in just eight matches. Ledwell and Siroin barely missed double figures with nine kills apiece. Hinsch had 40 assists in the match while junior libero Rainey pulled in 13 defensive digs for UMD.
The Bulldogs finally make their way home on Tuesday to take on non-conference foe Michigan Tech. The match is set for 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast locally on My9.
