With set point at 24-23 in the third set, the University of Minnesota Duluth looked to take a 2-1 set lead heading to the fourth. Instead, Northern State University rallied back and claimed the third set 28-26 on its third set point and the air could have collapsed from the lungs of the No. 8 Bulldogs.

The previous outing in Aberdeen was starting to trickle in and loom over the Bulldogs. UMD committed 27 attacking errors in the three-set dismantling 363 days ago. Tonight, the Bulldogs, heading to the fourth trailing, had 26 errors after three sets. 

However, this time was different.

UMD dug in for the long haul and ended up with only four attack errors in the last two sets to upend No. 5 Northern State University in five sets (20-25, 25-14, 26-28, 25-16, 15-11) on Friday night. The Bulldogs raced out to a 11-1 lead in the fourth and coasted to the set victory to force the decisive fifth set. Knotted at 10, UMD went on a 4-0 spurt and grabbed the match two points later on a kill by junior outside hitter Hanna Meyer, who had three of the Bulldogs last five points in the fifth. 

The Wolves (22-3; 14-3 NSIC) dropped their second consecutive Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference match and their third straight match in a row to UMD -- all in five sets. The Bulldogs (21-5; 14-3 NSIC) have won the last three five-set matches over Northern State going back to the NCAA Central Region Quarterfinal in Marshall, Minn., on Nov. 30, 2017. UMD swept the season series tonight after dethroning the then-No. 1 Wolves at Romano Gymnasium back on Sept. 22.

The Bulldogs, whom tallied 14 blocks tying a season-high, didn't set any season high team marks mostly established back in that five-set September thriller but a few players had standout performances.

After being held without a kill in the first set, senior right side hitter Sarah Kelly exploded with 18 kills over the final four frames to lead all players. Her 18 kills was a season best, topping her previous mark of 16 kills against Upper Iowa University. Kelly had only three attack errors in 39 swings and finished with a .385 hitting clip. The 2017 AVCA All American has hit above .353 the last eight matches. 

Senior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen, who is closing in on 1,000 kills at UMD, registered a match high and a season high 23 digs, one shy of a collegiate best set last season. Morgen clubbed home seven kills and is now seven kills away from joining Kelly and 19 other Bulldogs into the 1,000-Kill club. 

Sophomore Kate Berg pieced together another solid all-around performance. The outside hitter etched her team-leading seventh double-double of the season on 17 kills and 18 digs. She also collected four blocks including three solo blocks. Berg has compiled at least one block in each of the last 16 contests.

Meyer concluded the night with 15 kills and six blocks, also one short of her career high. Junior setter Emily Torve tossed out 60 assists and threw in eight digs, a pair of kills, a few aces and a couple of blocks. Junior defensive specialist Keena Seiffert racked up 19 digs. 

Hailey Busch led Northern State with 16 kills on 64 attempts. Ashley Rozell had 46 assists and 12 digs for the Wolves while Jaiden Langlie carried the club with a team-high 17 digs. Jenna Reiff was in on eight of the NSU 14 blocks.

UMD held the advantage in kills (69-53) and in digs (81-68). The Bulldogs also had four aces and messed up once in serve receive.

The Bulldogs close out their last regular season road match tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m. at Minnesota State University Moorhead.