The University of Minnesota Duluth put on a blocking clinic against its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe this afternoon as the Bulldogs (19-2, 11-1 NSIC) would need just three sets to knock off the University of Mary (5-17, 1-12 NSIC). The Marauders fell for a 10th straight time.

UMD recorded its most efficient defensive effort of the season limiting Mary to a -.022 percentage throughout the match while blasting .342 itself. The Marauders had all their attacking options seized at the net. Mary hit a miniscule .194 in the opening set which was their best frame as they hit -.033 and -.241 in the last two stanzas. The Bulldogs forced more errors (26) than kills (24) given up in 90 Marauder attempts.

This is the 15th time this season that the Bulldogs have swept an opponent. UMD has yet to drop a match to U-Mary in program history - improving to 14-0.

The fifth-ranked Bulldogs were led by sophomore middle blocker Abby Thor, who racked up eight blocks. Thor was the head guard at the net appearing on eight of the team's 13 total blocks. Five other Bulldogs had at least three blocks. Junior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen sent back two attacks on her own while junior right side hitter Sarah Kelly also teamed up to post four blocks. Kelly had a stellar day offensively hitting .727 en route to eight kills and collecting two aces.

The Mauraders gave the Bulldogs all they could handle in the opening set, as UMD was able to squeak by 25-20. After being tied at 15-15, the Bulldogs picked up the pace and took a 20-16 lead, forcing a Mary timeout. UMD coasted down the stretch for the set victory. The second set bounced back and forth in the early stages, but UMD was able to prevail by the same 25-20 score. The Bulldogs fell down early 7-5, but stuck close to U-Mary and tied up the score a few points later. UMD snatched the lead and didn't look back, rallying off multiple runs of three-and-four-point bursts to extend the cushion. The Bulldogs hit a match high .400 on the set.

UMD dominated the third and final set after establishing a 14-3 lead. U-Mary wouldn't get any closer than seven points the remainder of the set, eventually falling 25-9 to cap off the sweep. The Bulldogs imposed its defensive will on the Marauders making them commit eight consecutive errors to end the contest.

The Bulldogs will return to action next weekend when they square off against Minnesota State University Moorhead and No. 11 Northern State University on the road. UMD will face off against its sixth ranked opponent of the season on Saturday versus the Wolves.