Using relentless defense and a well-balanced offense with a bevy of weapons, the seventh-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth have found their early model of success during the second week of season. The Bulldogs moved their overall record to 5-1 on the year after sinking Lake Superior State University in the early-morning blitz and then toppling Northern Michigan University in the nightcap at the Keweenaw Classic in Houghton, Mich. Friday.

UMD 25-12, 25-17, 25-13 over Lake Superior State
All 13 eligible players found time on the court with junior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen anchoring the club. Morgen racked up 15 kills and 13 digs, for her second double-double this season, in the earliest game time the Bulldogs will encounter this season. Sophomore defensive specialist Keena Seiffert and freshman defensive specialist Megan Freeberg each saw their first playing action as the libero in the match. Seiffert contributed with 12 digs, second among Bulldogs, to go with three aces and Freeberg registered 6 digs along with her first career assist and ace.

UMD, as a team, hit a collective .378 versus the Lakers' .125. Setters Sarah Heesacker and Emily Torve quarterbacked the offense each splitting time as the club's main disher. Torve, the sophomore out of Loretto, Minn, tallied 25 assists while Heesacker, the Green Bay, Wis. senior, posted 19.

UMD 25-22, 25-22, 25-17 over Northern Michigan
It was the marque matchup of the day as the Bulldogs and Wildcats squared off for the 42nd time and for the 27th time UMD ruled victorious. Junior right side hitter and senior middle blocker Allison Olley led a highly-balanced and effective assault. The Bulldogs hit .305 in the match and have yet to lose a match when hitting over the .300 threshold.

UMD got a little breathing room late in the first but never distanced themselves. Holding a slight 21-19 lead, Kelly and Olley swung the match with consecutive blocks. Northern Michigan (4-2) attempted to even the sets in the second but a 9-2 run with Berg and Freeberg serving turned a three-point deficit into a 22-19 lead. The Bulldogs held on again to take a deflating 2-0 lead. Kelly threw down thunderous spikes in rapid succession to set the tone in the third. Later, Torve, sophomore middle blocker Abby Thor, and Morgen each hammered down kills to take a 18-14 lead. The Wildcats faltered down the stretch run making four errors for UMD to take the final set with ease.

Kelly led all players with 12 kills. Morgen, again, led UMD with 13 digs with 10 of those taking place in the last frame. Torve handed out 38 assists in the match.

The Bulldogs return to the Student Development Complex Gymnasium for their final bouts in the tournament tomorrow against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and host Michigan Tech University. First serve versus the Rangers is set for 2:00 p.m. CST.