The University of Minnesota Duluth collected one of their highest block totals of the season in shutting down a tough Minot State University team 3-0 in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference match on Friday afternoon.

No. 2 UMD (20-1, 13-0 NSIC) battled through an opening set that saw 13 tie scores and six lead changes, pulling away late to win 25-21 over Minot State (5-16, 3-10 NSIC). The Bulldogs turned their fortune around in the second set with a 25-18 win, and dominated the third set 25-12.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Sophomore middle blocker Sydnie Mauch and junior outside hitter Mariah Scharf each knocked down 11 kills for the Bulldogs. Mauch was nearly perfect on the night with just one error in 14 swings - good for a .714 hitting percentage. Junior setter Ashley Hinsch knocked down four kills and continued to collect impressive assist numbers. She had 13.11 per game in UMD's three matches during Homecoming week after collecting 35 in today's match.
• UMD was tough at the net, especially in the second and third sets, collecting 10 total blocks on the night but eight after the initial frame. Hinsch led the way with five blocks including one solo, while junior middle blocker Monica Turner played a part in five as well. Senior right side hitter Maddy Siroin and Mauch had three each. The Bulldogs had 46 digs as a team, led by senior libero Julie Rainey's 14 and senior outside hitter Aly Kujawa's 10.
 
Minot State junior outside hitter Mallory Sal gave UMD headaches in the first set with six kills, finishing with 13 on the match to lead the Beavers.  While the Bulldogs had six errors (between attacking, reception, and blocking) hurt them in the opening set, Minot State had 11 including five service errors which helped UMD side-out at 71 percent in the opening set. The Beavers scored the first two points in the second set but the Bulldogs scored 10 of the next 13, eventually opening up an 18-10 cushion before holding on for the 25-18 win. After the break, the teams traded points to start the match at 3-3 before UMD went on a similar run, this time taking an 11-5 lead. Neither team would put together the strongest night from a hitting percentage standpoint as the teams combined for 34 attack errors, but the Bulldogs would coast to the 25-12 third-set victory hitting just enough - .275 as a team, compared to .101 for Minot State.

Senior setter Emily Bryne had 24 of Minot State's 27 assists, and senior outside hitter Jen Dixon led the way with 10 digs for the

UP NEXT
UMD sets out on the road next weekend traveling to Minnesota State University-Moorhead and Northern State University (RV) in another set of tough NSIC match-ups. The Bulldogs and Wolves start the weekend at 7:00 p.m. Friday in Aberdeen, S.D.