It was a rough weekend for the University of Minnesota Duluth as it was tripped up by Northern State University in three sets to drop their second straight Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference match in as many days. 2015 was the last time back-to-back road losses were dumped . The Bulldogs (19-4, 12-3 NSIC) hit under the .200 mark again making it first time they hit below that threshold since Minnesota State University-Moorhead and NSU accomplished that feat in 2012, also on the road. The ninth-ranked Wolves (20-3, 13-2 NSIC) are only the second team to defeat UMD in straight sets this season, the other team being No. 1 Southwest Minnesota State who also got upended today.

NSU's Hailey Busch led all hitters with 15 kills while freshman Laura Snyder knocked down seven of her own on an effective .368 hitting clip. The Wolves hit .205 on the night and stole a page from the Dragons playbook strangling the Bulldogs attack to a season-low .118 percentage. Sophomore libero Keena Seiffert paced UMD with 14 digs. Senior defensive specialist Kelly Madison posted 10 while junior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen scooped 12 digs to go along with nine kills and three aces. Sophomore middle blocker Abby Thor, the reigning defensive player of the week for the NSIC, had the best night offensively for the Bulldogs, throwing down 10 kills on 23 attempts. The other middle blocker, senior Allison Olley rifled home eight kills on 17 swings and three blocks.

The Wolves led the entire first set, taking it 25-19. NSU expanded its slim lead to 15-11 but UMD stormed back after a timeout to get it within one. The Wolves went on a 5-1 run afterwards to make it 21-16 and gladly traded sideouts to end the set. Thor was stellar again in the first set, thumping five kills. The Bulldogs grabbed the lead twice in the second but were unable to hold it. NSU took off after a 9-9 tie and forced a Jim Boos' timeout at 16-12. UMD made it interesting getting it to 17-16 but committed three attack errors down the stretch to give the Wolves the second set 25-20. The Bulldogs never seemed like the explosive offense that it was shown prior to this weekend. The offense sparked in the third as they hopped out to a four-point advantage. NSU adjusted once again and the Bulldog offense sputtered as they coughed up the lead and fought back-and-forth, trading the lead multiple times before a bad set and two attack errors handed the Wolves the victory. The lead changed hands eight times and UMD had set point after a Morgen ace but NSU stayed composed and won four of the last five points.

The Bulldogs, who are 4-2 against top-25 competition, travel down to their travel partner, St. Cloud State University, to take on the Huskies at Halenbeck Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 6:00 p.m.