For the first time this fall, the University of Minnesota Duluth was dragged to a decisive fifth set and crawled its way through with a victory over Winona State University in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Friday evening (25-23, 20-25, 25-20, 20-25, 15-13). The Bulldogs (16-2, 9-1 NSIC) trailed 10-6 in the final set before storming all the way back to overtake the Warriors (13-5, 7-3 NSIC) and sneak out of McCown Gymnasium with a 3-2 win. It was a grind-it-out effort for the Bulldogs as they weren't firing on all cylinders. The Warriors took UMD out of its comfort zone and its system for most of the contest. Both teams preceded to trade the first four sets before the rally by the Bulldogs clinched it.

For the first time all match, UMD grabbed a two-point edge to start game five but the Warriors tied it quickly and hurried out to the aforementioned 10-6 lead. The Bulldogs battled back to 10-all and again at 12-all. UMD grabbed the lead at 13-12 for the first time since 3-2 and needed a second match point to put the game away. The Bulldogs thought they had the contest won a point earlier but senior middle blocker Allison Olley was called for a late violation on her attack. Unfazed, Olley pounded home the match-decider the every next point. 

As thrilling as the fifth set was, UMD needed some unlikely heros to make sure it had won two sets. Senior defensive specialist Kelly Madison delivered two service aces during a five-point run late in the opening set that featured 12 ties throughout the set. With Madison tossing up difficult serves, the Bulldogs were able to establish a five-point cushion to capture the first set. With a charge by the Warriors in the third set, sophomore outside hitter Hanna Meyer provided the other spark to help gobble up the set to take a 2-1 lead to the fourth. Meyer was inserted after UMD was starting to struggle with its attack and rendered traction again immediately with two of the next three kills. Her second kill forced a WSU timeout as UMD climbed out to 23-20.

The Warriors put a stop to the Bulldogs' streak of hitting at least .300, holding them to .284 attack percentage. UMD won nearly every category expect for total blocks (7.0-6.0) as they out dug (by 11), out hit (nine kills) and out served (one ace) WSU. The Bulldogs set a single-game high for kills (72) in a game.

Sophomore libero Keena Seiffert continued to be a stalwart in the back row, shattering her career-best digs mark for a second consecutive time. The Chaska, Minn., native posted 25 digs en route to holding the Warriors to a .266 hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Emily Torve passed out 60 assists, a new collegiate high for her, and gathered 10 digs for her second double-double of the year. Freshman outside hitter Kate Berg also compiled a double-double with 17 kills and 10 digs. Junior right side hitter Sarah Kelly whooped up 18 and an effective 30 swings. Olley contributed 15 on 28 swings and junior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen added 10 kills of her own.

The battle-tested Bulldogs, who are 4-1 against top-25 opponents, remain on the road Saturday with a 2:00 p.m. match against Upper Iowa University.