The University of Minnesota Duluth turned up the intensity a few notches in the fourth set to bury No. 12 Augustana University at Romano Gymnasium. The sixth-ranked Bulldogs dropped the third set but closed the match out hitting .600 in the fourth set. Out of 30 attacks, only one error was committed by UMD who captured their fifth straight Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory to start league play. The Bulldogs (12-1, 5-0 NSIC) completed their three game home stand undefeated.

Either team could do what they wanted offensively to open the game. With the first set tied at 14, UMD was hitting.423 with Augustana sightly lower at .387. That efficiency kept the game tied or within two points up until the Vikings (9-5, 1-4 NSIC) went on a mini run to march ahead 19-15. Jim Boos called timeout and inserted sophomore Hanna Meyer off the bench who immediately provided a spark. Meyer and Bulldogs rallied back to tie things at 20 including a ferocious double block by Meyer and senior middle blocker Allison Olley off the Vikings' No.2 attacker Bailey Koch. The longest rally of the set came at 22-21 when each club swung four times before junior right side hitter Sarah Kelly slammed down the eventual point winner. The Bulldogs would take the first set 25-23.

Junior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen was featured in the second set. Morgen started slow in the first set gathering two kills on 10 attempts but rocked four kills on her first seven swings afterwards. Later, UMD would go on a 7-1 run after another tight beginning to set two. The Vikings crawled back late to bring it within 22-21 but Kelly and Olley hammered the next three balls home to take a 2-0 lead into the break. It looked like Augustana would easily take the third set as they regrouped from the intermission and caught UMD off guard. The resiliency of the Bulldogs show up once again as they didn't give the set freely as they stormed back to briefly take the lead 15-14.The Vikings took control back and pulled away after the Bulldogs were flat-footed with an injury that shook up the rotation.

Knowing it wasn't going to be easy against one of the top-ranked competition in the nation, UMD regained its footing and dominated the final set from start to finish by holding a 11-point advantage during the set. Freshman outside hitter Kate Berg had five of her 13 kills in the set. Berg also tallied her first career double-double also picking up 14 digs-- just one dig shy of her career best.

Boos coached his 500th career game from the Bulldog bench. Since his inception to the program in 2002, Boos is the only coach in program history to reach the 500-game milestone. His 424 wins and .848 winning percentage directing his unit are also program bests.

Olley led all players with six total blocks. The Racine, Wis., native continues to pace UMD in blocks as she now has 45 total blocks (1.07 a set). Olley also didn't commit an attack error for the second straight match (13-for-20). Sophomore Keena Seiffert snagged a team-high 17 digs as the libero. Seiffert, who also passed out five assists on the day, was one of five Bulldogs to record double-digits scoops. Kelly, the 2016 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American selection, nailed down 18 kills on a .457 attack clip. Morgen and sophomore setter Emily Torve stockpiled double-double again. Morgen compiled 14 kills and 11 digs while Torve gathered 48 assists and 12 digs.

The Bulldogs turn their attention to Sioux Falls University and No. 1 Southwest Minnesota State University next weekend as they put their nine game winning streak on the line to close out the September slate of games.