The University of Minnesota Duluth continued to blast its way past opponents this season and it was no exception tonight, breezing through a pesky University of Minnesota Crookston team in straight sets in both teams' Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opening match at Romano Gymnasium on Thursday night. With the win, the No. 7 Bulldogs (8-1, 1-0 NSIC) extended their straight-sets win total to five. A gritty effort in the third set by Minnesota Crookston (3-6, 0-1 NSIC) made UMD battle back in the final set but they still captured the sweep of the Golden Eagles for a 11th consecutive time dating back to 2009. The Bulldogs still have yet to lose a match to Minnesota Crookston in their 25 appearances.

The Golden Eagles came out blazing in the third set to stifle UMD. Five straight errors hindered the Bulldogs in the early going as they hit -.067 in the first 12 points of the set. Minnesota Crookston, who has led by Kassi Green's 10 kills on the night, jumped out to their first lead in the match due to UMD's ineffectiveness. However, a tactical time out by head coach Jim Boos settled his players down and they regained the lead seven points later and never relinquished it. Senior defensive specialist Kelly Madison starred in the biggest play of the night. Madison, an Eagan, Minn. native, soared from her back position to the front of the net to make a play-saving dig on a tip. UMD turned her dig into a giant point as junior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen gunned it past a double block to put the club up 20-17. Despite that poor hitting percentage to start the set, the Bulldogs roared down the stretch to finish at .324.

Morgen recorded her fourth double-double of the season. The Appleton, Wis. native compiled 14 kills and 10 digs in the match. Sarah Kelly ripped down a match-high 15 kills and somehow boasted her hitting percentage up six points to an astounding .509 on the season. The nation's second best setter in terms of assists per set, sophomore setter Emily Torve whipped up 35 assists and directed the team to a .378 clip, marking the seventh time this season they eclipsed the .300 mark. Sophomore libero Keena Seiffert led the dogs defensively by piling up 13 digs.

The Bulldogs return to the court with an encounter against Bemidji State University. The Beavers (3-6, 0-1 NSIC) fell to St. Cloud State University in four sets tonight. First serve is slated for 3:00 p.m. Saturday in Bemidji, Minn.