The University of Minnesota Duluth continued to prove it is one of the top teams in the country on Saturday evening by knocking off Bemidji State University in three straight sets.
 
UMD (10-0, 2-0 NSIC) has stuck to a similar formula throughout their wins this season and had no reason to do anything differently today. The Bulldogs used an efficient offensive attack and stifling defense to power past Bemidji State (5-5, 1-1 NSIC). UMD hit .385 as a team in the three set victory, its second highest output of the season. Senior middle blocker Sydnie Mauch led the Bulldogs with 11 kills on 19 attacks while hitting an impressive .688.
Sophomore outside hitter Makenzie Morgan and sophomore right side hitter Sarah Kelly both grabbed nine kills to aid UMD's offense.
 
The Bulldogs held Bemidji State to hitting just -.022, the second lowest a Bulldog opponent has hit thus far. Mauch recorded a team leading four blocks, while Kelly and junior middle blocker Allison Olley recorded three a piece to help tie the Bulldogs' season best of 10 total blocks. Eight different UMD players recorded digs throughout the dominant defensive performance, led by sophomore libero Erin Schindler.

UMD head coach Jim Boos shared his thoughts on UMD's execution tonight; "I thought they came out right from the get-go, very focused, very determined to come out here and try to control what was going to happen in the match."
 
With this win the Bulldogs have won 10 straight games to open the season, which is their best start to a season since the 2013 team rattled off 12 wins to start an eventual 33-3 season. UMD has also won 22 consecutive sets – the longest consecutive set streak since a streak of 25 from Sept. 13 to Oct. 4 of 2014. The Bulldogs held BSU to just 33 points over three sets, the lowest total from an opponent of the season and the lowest since a match with the University of Mary on Oct. 17, 2014 (26 points). UMD is now 90-3 all time against Bemidji State.
 
The Bulldogs will return to the court on Tuesday as they travel to take on St. Cloud State. UMD then returns to Duluth to host Upper Iowa University and No. 9 Winona State University next weekend.