Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The University of Minnesota Duluth opened up the Colorado Premier Challenge with a pair of victories, taking down the host Regis (Colo.) University in straight sets before sweeping a top-five showdown with No. 4 Brigham Young University-Hawaii on Friday in Denver.

No. 3 UMD (6-0) toppled the Rangers (3-2) in straight sets to start the day with victories of 25-18, 25-18, and 25-15 in three games. The fourth-ranked Seasiders (3-1) gave the Bulldogs a tougher test, but UMD knocked off BYU-Hawaii 25-18, 25-20, and 25-21 in a sweep.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Junior outside hitter Mariah Scharf continued her strong play on the left side of the net with 18 kills in the opener against Regis. She would finish with 27 on the day.
• Junior middle blocker Monica Turner and senior right-side hitter Maddy Siroin were perfect in the opening match, with a combined 18 kills on 28 attacks without a single error. Turner would have just one error on the day compared to 18 kills, while also knocking down five blocks against BYU-Hawaii.
• Senior outside hitter Katie Ledwell and sophomore middle blocker Sydnie Mauch took control of the offense in the second match, with Mauch leading the way with 12, and Ledwell not far behind at 11.

The battle of two top-five teams was anything but expected as the Bulldogs controlled the match throughout the first two sets, never holding a tie or trailing in the first game with the second tied at 2-2, and 7-7, before the Bulldogs ran off 8 of 10 points to open a 2-0 lead. The Seasiders were tougher in the third set with a pair of leads and six tie scores, but UMD never trailed by more than two in the set as it came from behind to win 25-21.

Defensively, UMD controlled the net with eight team blocks compared to four for BYU-Hawaii. Turner led the way with five, while Siroin was not far behind with four in the match. Senior libero Julie Rainey had 21 digs, holding the Seasiders to just a .152 hitting percentage. Senior Shih Teng Chen had 12 kills, the only player for BYU-Hawaii to reach double digits. UMD junior setter Ashley Hinsch had 44 assists in the match, compared to 21 for the Seasiders' Elizabeth Blake.

In the opening match, Turner took control in the first set as the Bulldogs jumped out on Regis to open the day with a 25-18 win. She hit .588 with 10 kills on 17 swings in the match without making an attack error. Scharf led the way in the second set with six of her 18 kills, as UMD hit .500 in going up 2-0 on another 25-18 victory. While the Rangers stayed competitive, the Bulldogs never trailed in the first two  games before putting together their most dominant win, 25-15, in the third set. UMD made just nine attack errors to hit .519 in the match. Turner and Scharf would also combine for two blocks between the pair, including a solo by Scharf. Senior libero Julie Rainey needed just nine digs in the match, as six Bulldogs had at least five defensive saves in the match. Junior setter Ashley Hinsch collected 42 assists.

The Rangers, who were among the teams receiving votes on multiple ballots in this week's AVCA poll, were led by seniors Mary Schroeder and Gina Morgan offensively, with nine and eight kills, respectively. The team had 12 attack errors by its top five swingers, but still hit .256 in the match. Junior setter Rebecca Sponcil had 30 assists, while Regis had just two players reach five digs - outside hitters junior Caitie Breaux and sophomore Maggie Steward.

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs continue at the Colorado Premier Challenge tomorrow, switching sites to Metro State University of Denver where UMD will take on No. 2 University of Tampa and the host Roadrunners. The battle of top-three teams will be bright and early - with a 9:30 a.m. MST opening serve.