While the University of Minnesota Duluth donned pink jerseys to raise breast cancer awareness on Saturday afternoon, the Bulldogs may not be looking to make that fashion statement again anytime soon, falling in straight sets to No. 9 Wayne State (Neb.) College at Romano Gymnasium in Duluth.

The good news of the afternoon saw the team raise money for Essentia Health Duluth's breast cancer foundation with a silent auction during the match, but the positives mostly ended there for No. 5 UMD (15-5, 8-3 NSIC) as they slipped up against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rival No. 9 Wayne State (17-3, 9-2 NSIC). The Bulldogs hit just .219 as a team, collecting 20 errors on the afternoon. Leading the attack for UMD was senior middle blocker Monica Turner, who had 11 kills without a single error to her name and hitting .579 while also playing a part in two of the Bulldogs' six blocks, moving her into second place all-time in total career blocks at UMD. Junior outside hitter Taylor Wissbroecker played a role in four blocks, including two solo, and also led the Bulldogs with 15 kills, hitting .308.

UMD was slow to get started offensively, coming out of the gates with a 16-kill, eight-error first game that saw them hit a match-low .195. The Wildcats didn't fair much better in game one, hitting just .209 but did enough to make UMD uncomfortable en route to an eventual sweep by scores of 25-21, 25-21, and 25-23. The Bulldogs looked their strongest in game two, hitting .244 with just five errors but Wayne State was that much better, collecting just three errors in the set while hitting a match-high .325. The Wildcats' do-everything senior outside hitter Katie Hughes led all players with 18 kills while also grabbing six digs and three blocks. For UMD on the defensive side, senior setter Ashley Hinsch finished with a double-double adding 17 digs to her 39 assists while first-year libero Erin Schindler matched her 17.

The third game produced the most drama for both teams, as they tied each point between 17-17 and 22-all before Wayne reached match point with two straight and 3-of-4 to clinch the sweep.

OUTSIDE HITS
UMD drops to 24-7 all-time against Wayne State ... with an error on her second swing of the night, freshman right-side hitter Sarah Kelly snapped a streak of 22 kills and over 30 swings without an errant attack ... the Wildcats senior setter Leisa McClintock matched Hinsch with 39 assists on the night ... junior outside hitter Michaela Mestl's curveball serves troubled UMD as she finished with four aces on the night to go with a team-high 15 digs for Wayne ... the Bulldogs settled for their second three-set defeat of the season, something that has not occured since the 2012 season, while also collecting its third conference loss of the season, a first since 2010.

UP NEXT
UMD won't need to wait long for a chance to bounce back as the team begins a three-match road trip Tuesday night at St. Cloud State University in NSIC action. The Bulldogs and Huskies will open serve at 7:00 p.m.