The University of Minnesota Duluth saw its undefeated season come to an end on Saturday afternoon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Facing a top 10 team for the second straight night, UMD came up short and dropped the match by a score of 3-1. The Bulldogs move to 21-1 (13-1 NSIC) while No. 8 Augustana improves to 20-4 (11-3 NSIC).

Senior outside hitter Taylor Wissbroecker led the way for UMD offensively, racking up 18 kills while hitting .459. Sophomore right side hitter Sarah Kelly put out an efficient 13 kills on 25 attacks, good for a .320 hit percentage. The Bulldogs were held to hitting just .210 as a team, while Augustana recorded the highest attack percentage against UMD this season (.325). Both teams ended with 10 blocks, while the Vikings held the advantage on total kills 65-55.

Augustana seemed to have a step on UMD for much of the match, including the first set where they outhit the Bulldogs .400 to .150. After the teams battled to an early 7-6 lead for the Vikings, UMD was unable to stick around when Augustana ran off seven of the next eight points. The Bulldogs would not get within six points the remainder of the set, facing a 1-0 deficit after the 25-17 Viking victory.

The second frame proved to be closer, however it was UMD who ended up on the wrong side again. The Bulldogs were not able to grab a lead at any point in the set. After Augustana extended its lead to 19-16, the teams alternated the next 11 points, resulting with a 25-21 set loss for UMD. The Bulldogs were able to improve on their attack percentage to .275 but were unable to handle Augustana's effective offense (.333 hit percentage).

Now facing a 2-0 deficit, UMD took the court in the third set prepared to make a comeback. The Bulldogs took an early 12-7 lead before allowing Augustana to run off the next six points and grab the advantage. UMD took back the lead, and held off the Vikings for the remainder of the set, claiming a 25-22 victory following an Augustana attack error.

Augustana wanted no part of a tiebreaking fifth set, as they came out firing on all cylinders in the fourth. The Vikings jumped ahead 8-2 and wouldn't let the Bulldogs inch much closer. After falling behind 20-8, UMD grabbed six of the next nine points in an effort to spark a comeback, but were unable to storm all the way back. Augustana eventually took the set and match by a score of 25-14, 3-1.

UMD will return to action against the University of Sioux Falls on Friday (Oct. 28) at Romano Gymnasium.