The University of Minnesota Duluth gave it its all but came up short of advancing to its third-ever appearance to the NCAA Elite Eight. The Bulldogs were ousted out of the NCAA Tournament by Concordia University, St. Paul in four sets by scores of 25-23, 25-20, 20-25 and 25-16. It was a spectacular run by the Bulldogs. The fifth seeded club in the Division II Central Region defeated fourth-seeded Northern State University in the quarterfinal and regional host Southwest Minnesota State University to reach the final.

UMD wasn't able to keep pace with the Golden Bears (31-3) as the Bulldogs were outslugged .294-.184. Concordia was able to keep the Bulldog attack steady as UMD lost the kill advantage for only the third time this season.

Junior right side hitter Sarah Kelly turned in another great performance piling up 14 kills, 13 digs and five blocks. Junior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen was the only other Bulldog to record at least 10 kills. Sophomore middle blocker Abby Thor had eight kills and a game-high six blocks.

Concordia scrapped together four players with double-figure kills. Outside hitters Mariya Sampson and Brooklyn Lewis each tied Kelly with 14 kills. Erin Fallert posted a game-high 15 digs.

The first set featured 11 ties and eight lead changes as no team led by more than two points for the first 41 points. The Golden Bears finally took the lead at 22-19 before the Bulldogs had four straight points to go ahead 23-22. Concordia finished the set on a 3-0 run to take the set. The Bulldogs couldn't stop the Golden Bears runs in the second as runs of three four and three pushed CSP to an easy second set victory. UMD pulled back into it in the third. It raced out to a 9-2 lead then pushed it back to 19-12. Kelly blasted the final two kills to win set three. UMD ran out of gas in the fourth. The Bears held the Bulldogs to their lowest hitting total at .108.

Kelly and sophomore setter Emily Torve were named to the 2017 NCAA Central Region All-Tournament team after the match. The entire all-tournament team will be listed below.

UMD, who wrapped up their 20th tournament appearance and 15 in the last 16, finished the season 27-6. The Bulldogs are 23-20 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. It also signaled the end of the collegiate volleyball careers of Allison Olley, Sarah Heesacker and Kelly Madison. The trio, since their arrival on campus, have gone 107-22, good for a .829 winning percentage.




NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team
Elizabeth Mohr, Concordia-St. Paul
Mariya Sampson, Concordia-St. Paul
Brooklyn Lewis, Concordia-St. Paul
Shelby Seurer, Concordia-St. Paul
Emily Torve, Minnesota Duluth
Sarah Kelly, Minnesota Duluth
Taylor Reiss, Southwest Minnesota State
Kayla Ruff, Missouri Western State
Tabitha Spray, Arkansas Tech
Laura Snyder, Northern State
Ellie McDonnell, Nebraska-Kearney
Taylor Bevis, Central Oklahoma