When the University of Minnesota Duluth meets up with Upper Iowa University, the outcome has been one sided. It certainly was that way again on Saturday at Romano Gymnasium as the No. 7 Bulldogs defeated the Peacocks in straight sets to move to 19-4 overall and 12-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Upper Iowa is still searching for its first win over UMD, which has won all 15 meetings dating back to when the two clubs first collided in 2008. The Bulldogs have swept the Peacocks for the fourth consecutive match and 10th time overall. 

UMD attacked above the .300 mark for the fourth straight night and finished with a .331 hitting percentage while Upper Iowa hit .259. The Bulldogs had their most effective night at the net racking up 56 kills, the most in a three-set match by UMD all season. Those 56 kills were the most by the Bulldogs in a three-set match since throwing down 57 kills in a 3-0 sweep over Nova Southeastern University last season.

Anna Winter tried her best to single handedly bring down UMD. Winter opened the match with six kills on eight attempts and with no solution to slow her down, the Bulldogs needed someone to step up. The two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American answered the call. 

Senior right side hitter Sarah Kelly went 6-for-7 in the first set and finished the match with 16 kills, one shy of Winter's match-high 17. Kelly, who also chipped in six digs and three blocks, hit .519 for the match. While UMD had trouble containing Winter, no team this week had any idea on how to stonewall the native from Chaska, Minn. Kelly, who has the 11th most kills in UMD history, recorded 39 kills, good for 3.90 kills per set, and hit .508 in the 10 sets this week.

Sophomore outside hitter Kate Berg was the second leading attacker for the maroon-and-gold. Berg posted her team-leading fifth double-double on 10 kills and 13 digs. Senior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen also had 13 digs and rifled home seven kills while junior outside hitter Hanna Meyer and junior middle blocker Abby Thor had nine and eight kills, respectively. Junior setter Emily Torve dished out 46 assists and hammered home a collegiate high six kills.

The Bulldogs leave for a four-match road stint before returning home to close out the regular season. Minnesota State University Mankato is on deck for the seventh-ranked UMD. First serve between the Bulldogs and the Mavericks is set to begin Friday, Oct. 19. at 6:00 p.m.