Box Score The University of Minnesota Duluth took down the No. 8-ranked Southwest Minnesota State University in straight sets on Friday night at Romano Gymnasium, but the final score hardly told the story of the match.
No. 3 UMD (9-1, 2-0 NSIC) showed its resilience, needing a comeback in each set to take down the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rival Mustangs (6-4, 1-1 NSIC) by scores of 25-23, 25-23, 25-21.
HIGHLIGHTS• A second-set dive over the sideline scorer's table by senior right-side hitter
Maddy Siroin saved a point for UMD and sparked a comeback as the Bulldogs returned from a 20-14 deficit to take a 2-0 lead in the match. Siroin finished with nine kills on 17 swings (.412 hitting percentage).
• Junior outside hitter
Mariah Scharf led the way with 12 kills for UMD while junior setter
Ashley Hinsch distributed the ball to six attackers with at least a kill on the night. Hinsch made good on three kills herself while collecting 35 assists.
• Senior libero
Julie Rainey and senior outside hitter
Katie Ledwell led the UMD defense, collecting 17 and 12 digs, each, but the Bulldogs were tough on the net, too: UMD had 11.5 team blocks, including two solo blocks from both Siroin and sophomore middle blocker
Sydnie Mauch.
"I told them I needed to see them work tonight, and that play really showed me they were," said head coach
Jim Boos, on seeing his players dive out of the court to make a play. "Before that, I really thought Southwest was out-working us, but that really turned it around." The Bulldogs rallied for several points on the night with key saves made by nine different UMD players.
The Bulldogs were held to just a .205 hitting percentage on a night that saw 35 tied scores and 12 lead changes. In turn, UMD held Southwest Minnesota State to just a .128 attack rate. Junior right side hitter Abbey Thissen and sophomore middle blocker Sarah Parker each notched eight kills for the Mustangs. Junior outside hitter Whitney Burmeister made 15 digs and a pair of setters, junior Emilee Gutzmer and freshman Megan Larson combined for 30 assists on the night.
UP NEXTThe Bulldogs will be back on the court at Romano Gymnasium tomorrow with an afternoon tilt against the University of Sioux Falls at 4:00 p.m.
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