The University of Minnesota Duluth took care of business Friday night in Mankato, Minn., inside the Taylor Center. Minnesota State University Mankato fell in straight sets 25-21, 25-20, 25-16 and dropped their fourth straight match against the seventh-ranked Bulldogs. UMD has had its way with the Mavericks, winning nine of the last 11 meetings against its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe. 

Paced by junior middle blocker Abby Thor's career night, the Bulldogs had at least 14 kills in set on their way to their 20th win of the season. UMD (20-4; 13-2 NSIC) has notched at least 20 wins in each of last 17 seasons -- all under head coach Jim Boos. Thor posted a career high 15 kills and compiled four blocks including a pair of the solo variety. Thor finished the night hitting .542 with the aforementioned 15 kills on 24 swings and a pair of hitting errors. The Woodbury, Minn., native had a strong outing in the first with five kills to lead all attackers. She dialed it up a notch in the final set and she thundered home seven kills as UMD pulled away in the set. 

Thor might have had the best night on the court but her middle blocking partner dished out solid numbers as well. Senior right side and middle blocker Sarah Kelly had 12 kills of her own in 20 attempts. Combined,the middle blocking duo assembled 27 of the Bulldogs' 43 kills and hit .545. 

Minnesota State (15-8; 8-7 NSIC) was led with Morgan Olson's 11 kills but she was the only Maverick to collect more than six kills. The Mavericks' gameplan was to take away the outside and try to have UMD beat them either by forcing outside attacks or beating them in the middle. Junior setter Emily Torve, who is the reigning NSIC Setter of the Week for the fourth straight week, figured out midway through the second set that the latter was the better option.Torve handed out 41 assists out of the possible 43 UMD kills. Instead, the outside hitters contributed in a different matter. Senior Makenzie Morgen collected nine digs and a block while sophomore Kate Berg tallied four aces, tying a collegiate high, and also had nine digs as well. The Bulldogs had six aces as a unit while Minnesota State had one.

Junior libero Keena Seiffert scooped up 12 digs, one shy of the match-high mark by Mavericks' Mara Quam. The Bulldogs held the Mavericks to a .124 hitting percentage.

UMD meets No. 3 Concordia University, St. Paul tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul, Minn. The Bulldogs got the best of the Golden Bears earlier this season in a non-conference matchup at Romano Gymnasium.