The top-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth won't be the first team to solve unbeaten No. 19 Northern State University in 2015, as the team's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rival earned a 3-0 victory over the Bulldogs on Friday night in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

No. 19 Northern State (12-0, 4-0 NSIC) may have been relatively untested on the season, having faced just one ranked opponent prior to Friday night's match, but aced its latest test, knocking off No. 1 UMD (10-2, 3-1 NSIC) in straight sets on its home court. The Wolves came out flying high in game one, and the Bulldog offense could not get going as they cruised for a dominant 25-10 victory in the first game. UMD was reeling, but not for long, as the team played almost even with Northern State throughout the rest of the match, but the Wolves made enough plays to make the difference, taking games two and three by scores of 25-21 and 25-22.

Seven service aces to none in favor of Northern State and a 51-35 deficit in kills doomed UMD on the night. The Bulldogs amounted just five kills in the opening set, but got stronger as the match went on, eventually hitting .371 with 17 kills in the third game. The Wolves were that much better throughout the night, hitting .421 as a team led by senior outside hitter Kelsey Chambers and senior middle hitter Cary McGarvie, each with 13 kills on the night. Senior outside Mariah Scharf also had 13 kills for UMD, but the next-highest total was seven for first-year right-side hitter Sarah Kelly. Senior middle blocker Monica Turner played a part in each of the Bulldogs' three blocks on the night to lead both teams. The offensive affair saw 47 assists go to Northern State setter Drew Smith and 33 to UMD's senior captain Ashley Hinsch. NSU senior libero had a match-high 13 digs while UMD freshman Erin Schindler had 11.

OUTSIDE HITS
Northern State earned just its third victory in 50 matches against UMD, who owns a 47-3 record against the Wolves ... Turner's three blocks gave her 333 in her career, passing Katie Timm ('03) for sixth all-time - fifth place is one ahead of her (334) and fourth is three (336) ... Turner's five kills inch her closer to the 1,000-career kill club, now with 975 for the Bulldogs ... Scharf is not far behind Turner, now with 922 in her career ... the Bulldogs likely won't face another ranked opponent until No. 8 Concordia University, St. Paul comes to Duluth on the evening of Oct. 6 for Homecoming week.

UP NEXT
UMD will continue its road trip tomorrow as the team stops to take on Minnesota State University Moorhead. Opening serve is set for 4:00 p.m.