THE OPENING SERVE: The University of Minnesota Duluth embarks on its final Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference road trip of the regular season this weekend with No. 5 Northern State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead. The No. 8 Bulldogs (20-5; 13-3 NSIC) look for the season sweep of the Wolves Friday at 6:00 p.m. in Aberdeen, S.D. The final road match will be against the Dragons Saturday 4:00 p.m.

SCOUTING REPORT ON NORTHERN STATE: The Wolves (22-2; 14-2 NSIC) dropped to No. 5 in the AVCA poll after suffering their second loss -- first since the UMD defeat -- of the season, losing in straight sets to Southwest Minnesota State. Northern State is second is the NSIC and third in the central regional rankings. The Wolves cooled off from their hot start but still pose one of the top offensive units in the nation. It has the nation's best hitting percentage (.311). Northern State is averaging 14.6 kills per set (eighth best in DII), 13.8 assists per set (sixth best), 1.7 blocks per set and 17.1 digs per set. Ashley Rozell is fourth in the nation with .62 aces per set. Rozell, the team's setter, is averaging 12.62 assists per set, also second in the nation.Hailey Busch leads the offense knocking down 3.88 kills per set. Laura Synder, the 2017 NSIC Freshman Player of the Year, has 3.21 kills per set and is hitting the secong best mark in the NSIC at .394. Defensively, Jaiden Langlie is averaging 4.70 digs per set to lead the Wolves.

SCOUTING REPORT ON MSU MOORHEAD: The Dragons (9-14; 5-11 NSIC) are trying to get out of the tailspin they are in, losing the last nine NSIC contests. MSU Moorhead is tied for 11th in the NSIC. The Dragons have a solid defensive personal. As a unit, they are fourth in the league with 17.12 digs per set. Monica Vega lead the back row with an even 5.00 digs per set, which is second in the NSIC. Up front, MSU Moorhead has blocked well. It is fourth in the NSIC with 2.13 blocks per set. Kylie Kanwischer is the main presence at the net with 1.04 blocks per set. that mark is third in the league. Offensively, the Dragons run a 6-2 attacking system guided by setters Lauren Kiewiet (5.59 assists per set) and Katelyn Selensky 3.03 per set). Amanda Carlson leading the charge at 2.92 kills per set. Kaylyn Jenkins is second on the team at 2.06 kills per set.

THE SERIES: The Bulldogs are 61-13 lifetime against MSU Moorhead. The 61 wins for UMD is the fifth most victories over any program. The Dragons upset the Bulldogs last fall in Moorhead, Minn. UMD has won 10 of the last 11 matches.
The Bulldogs are 51-4 in 55 meetings. Northern State lost a five-set match at Romano Gymnasium on Sept. 22. UMD is 5-3 in the last eight meetings against the Wolves including a five set thriller in the NCAA Central Region Quarterfinal in 2017.

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how UMD and its opponents stack up with their overall records, the NSIC standings, in the AVCA poll and in the NCAA Regional Rankings.

THE BROADCAST: All NSIC matches throughout the season will be carried live through a video stream with live stat capabilities. Both matches this weekend and is available for free at: portal.stretchinternet.com/umd

LAST TIME OUT: The Bulldogs split last weekend to begin their four-match road stand. Minnesota State lost in straight sets to UMD but then-No. 3 Concordia-St. Paul took down the Bulldogs in four sets. Junior middle blocker Abby Thor collected a career high 15 kills in he win over the Mavericks. Senior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen and sophomore outside hitter Kate Berg each registered a double-double in the lost on Saturday. Morgen posted a season high 19 kills and 13 digs while Berg gathered 10 kills and 12 digs. 

NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS: A pair of Bulldogs -- junior middle blocker Abby Thor and junior setter Emily Torve -- have been honored by the NSIC with its weekly honors. Thor was named the NSIC Offensive Player of Week on Oct. 1. Torve was selected the NSIC Setter of the Week four times (Sept. 24-Oct. 15).

SETTING THE BAR: Junior setter Emily Torve continues to showcase world class form. The quarterback of the Bulldog offense notched Setter of the Week awards in four consecutive weeks, a believe-to-be league first. Torve was the first to three-peat that honor since 2014 when Bulldog almuna Ashley Hinsch rolled off three straight honors. During her superior run, the Bulldogs attack at an .301 hitting clip and averaged 15.8 kills per set. Torve tallied 475 assists or 13.5 assists per set over the course of that month-long stretch.

SURVEY SAYS: For roughly 16-plus years, the Bulldogs have been nationally ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association. UMD has been ranked in the top 10 in every poll this season and checked in at No. 8 on Monday. In fact, the Bulldogs have been in every poll since it first appeared on Sept. 10, 2002 -- a stretch of 228 consecutive weeks. No other team has a longer active streak.

SURVEY SAYS II: UMD ranked fifth in the initial NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings released Wednesday. The winners of the NSIC Postseason Tournament and the champions of the MIAA and the GAC get automatic bids to the tournament, leaving five at-large bids chosen by the teams ranked highest following postseason tournament play. The NCAA Volleyball selection show will be streamed online on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 9 p.m. on NCAA.com.

PULLING RANK: UMD is 3-2 against ranked teams this season. The Bulldogs have defeated No. 25 Flagler and No. 3 Concordia-St. Paul in straight sets and upset top-ranked Northern State in five sets. UMD has lost the last two top-25 matchups. 

ALL BUT GAME OVER: UMD is 18-0 this season when it leads 2-0 going into the intermission. Since the change to 25-point format in 2008, the Bulldogs are 238-2.

ROAD BLOCK: The Bulldogs' 2.26 blocks per set this season is the third highest per set average in the last 12 years. 

NO EASY WAY OUT: UMD is allowing 10. 5 kills per set which is the lowest total in the NSIC this season. The Bulldogs haven't reached a number that low since 2014 when that squad gave up 10.38 kills per set.

OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT: The Bulldog offense is once again near the top of the NCAA Division II charts. The .265 hitting percentage is 11th in the nation. The 14.74 kills per set is fourth in the nation and second in the NSIC and UMD has the third highest assists per set in the country with 14.10.

BLOCK PARTY: The Bulldogs are averaging 2.26 per set, which is good for second in the conference and 25th in the nation.

THE HAMMER OF THE BLOCK: Junior middle blocker Abby Thor has 86 blocks on the year and is on pace to becoming the third blocker in consecutive seasons to compile at least a block per set. She has 1.02 blocks per set, which is fifth in the NSIC and 70th among her peers. She could become the third different Bulldog in the last four years to rack up at least 100 blocks in a season.

NO PARTNER NEEDED: Junior middle blocker Abby Thor has 15 solo blocks this season. That is first among Bulldogs and tied for the second in the NSIC. 

ON LOCKDOWN: Teams are hitting .156 against the Bulldogs this season. That clip is impressive with six teams in top 25 in terms of attack percentage. That .156 mark is the 80th best in Division II and the top mark in the NSIC.

CHASING THE 1,000-KILL CLUB: Senior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen would be in line to become the next Bulldog to hit the 1,000-kill mark. Morgen has 1,251 kills combining her playing days with the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Currently, the Appleton, Wis., native is 14 kills away from becoming the 21st member of the Bulldog club.

MOVING UP THE KILL CHARTS: Senior right side hitter Sarah Kelly joined a distinctive group of 19 other Bulldogs to achieve at least 1,000 kills. Kelly has 1,208 kills for her career moving her past April Hansen for 11th amongst the program. She is 43 kills away from passing Kari Wolford (1,250) and cracking into the top 10.

LIGHT IT UP: Senior right side hitter Sarah Kelly is fourth in the nation among active career hitting percentages. Kelly is the top senior in terms of hitting percentage attacking at a .384 clip. As it stands, the Chaska, Minn., native is on pace to shatter the best UMD mark set at .361 by both Monica Turner and Sarah Wyffels.  

SET IT AND FORGET IT: Junior setter Emily Torve passed Krista Naugton for seventh all-time among set assists at UMD with 3,881 assists. Torve is chasing Eleena Iisakka for sixth all-time with 4,124.

THE COMPLETE SET: On a national stage, junior setter Emily Torve has the reputation of directing a few of the nation's best hitters and offenses during her stint. The Bulldogs have had the fifth and fourth best offensive hitting percentages the past two seasons. Pile those successes and Torve has the highest assists per set among active setters across all NCAA divisions registering at 12.14 assists per set. In addition, her 3,881 career assists is 15th among active Division II players and the most by a junior.

Top 5 Active Career Leaders in Assists Per Set
1 Emily Torve                                 UMD                     12.14
2 Ashley Rozell                              Northern St.          12.08
3 Laura DeMarchi                          Michigan Tech       11.86
4 Samantha Seliger-Swenson       Minnesota              11.83
5 Madison Lilley                             Kentucky                11.68

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs conclude the NSIC slate and the regular season at home with the University of Mary and Minot State University next weekend.