The seventh-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth slipped for the first time in 2017 but came home with a split Saturday in the 10th annual Shark Invitational in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in the final day of competition. UMD ended the two-day tournament 3-1 after they steamrolled American International College before being tripped up in the finale against St. Leo University in four sets. Mistakes would end up costing the Bulldogs of a clean sweep as they surrendered a total of 46 errors.

UMD 25-12, 25-17, 25-15 over American International
A night removed from putting a stranglehold on the opposition, UMD smothered the Yellow Jackets in identical ways limiting AIC to a .116 hitting percentage while attacking at a robust rate of .400 or above from the floor for a third consecutive match. Junior right side hitter Sarah Kelly gathered all the momentum for the Bulldogs in the middle of the first set almost single-handedly. The 2016 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American honorable selection from Chaska, Minn. rocketed five aces during a ten-point run that gave UMD a hefty cushion to take set one. In all, the Bulldogs would rally off 11 aces throughout the match. Freshman outside hitter Kate Berg threw down a match-high 12 kills on the afternoon. Kelly had 10 of her own to go along with her aces. Junior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen and senior libero Kelly Madison each led the team with 10 digs. Last year's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Freshman of the Year Emily Torve dished out 31 assists and collected eight digs as well. 

St. Leo 25-15, 19-25, 25-20, 26-24 over UMD
The Lions roared out of the gate blasting out to a 17-3 advantage before UMD found any traction in the match. Morgen would pile up five kills and a block in an attempt to rally back but the Bulldogs dropped the first set 15-25. UMD regained their composure and fought back hitting .522 the following frame to even things going into the third. Mentor errors in the third gave the set away as the Bulldogs committed a pair of ball handing mistakes, a few reception mistakes and a service mishap. The fourth and final set was a defensive battle at the net with both teams hitting close to .000-range. St. Leo prevailed at the net sightly in the blocking category which allowed the Lions to gain the upper hand. The Bulldogs fended off two match points to even it all at 24 before successive attack errors succumbed the final blow. Kelly finished with a match-high 15 kills while Madison led the team in digs (20) again for the fourth straight game. Torve passed out a season-high 48 assists in the match and senior middle blocker Allison Olley secured seven block assists in the loss.

The Bulldogs will compete in one last tournament next weekend as a tune-up before conference play in the Keweenaw Classic in Houghton, Mich. on Sept. 8-9.