What a way to conclude the home stand.

The fifth-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth bumped its home-win streak to 18 matches after taking a straight sets victory (26-24, 25-23, 25-23) over No. 3 Concordia University, St. Paul in non-conference action Wednesday night. Before the match, Dave Goldberg, a long time supporter of UMD Athletics, had the Romano Gymnasium court named after him in a short pre-match ceremony. Goldberg wrapped up his speech in front of 1,056 fans at Romano wanting to toast the historic night with a victory against the Bulldogs' arch nemesis. 

UMD delivered on his wish.

The Bulldogs swept Concordia-St. Paul for the ninth time and first since Oct. 11, 2014, also at home. With the win, UMD improved to 27-24 in the all-time series dating back to 1976 and have won the last two regular season meetings.

The Golden Bears (14-4; 8-1 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) were spotted leads in every set but the Bulldogs (15-3; 8-1 NSIC) rifled off rallies to avoid their any possibility of going to five sets for fifth time in the last seven contests against their rivals. Instead, they captured their seventh straight win and finish the home stand a perfect 5-0. 

Concordia-St. Paul was held to 40 kills and 44 digs, both the second lowest outputs by the Bears all season. UMD finished with 49 kills and 52 digs and hit .295 while limiting the CSP to .225 for the match. The Bulldogs jammed up the Concordia offense in each consecutive set. The Bears started the match hitting .300 after the first but was substantially held in check hitting .256 and .143. UMD had the advantage in blocks with 12 compared to seven. Junior middle blocker Abby Thor had a match-high seven blocks. The reigning NSIC Offensive Player of the Week also chipped in five kills on nine attacks.

Senior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen paced the Bulldogs with 13 kills, leading all players. Morgen was the catalyst in the third set. She single-handedly brought UMD back on a torrid 10-1 run to lead 14-10 after falling behind 5-9. Morgen hammered home eight kills in the last set including three straight during that run.

UMD had solid contributions from its other three outsides. Sophomore Kate Berg had 10 kills and a pair of service aces and junior Hanna Meyer racked up nine kills and hit .304. Senior Sarah Kelly, who missed the last seven matches with an injury, compiled 10 kills in her first line of work in over three weeks.

The repeat NSIC Setter of the Week, Emily Torve dished out 38 of the club's 47 assists. Junior libero Kenna Seiffert had only 10 to lead the Bulldogs. That snapped a streak of 12 consecutive matches with at least 12 digs. 

Brooklyn Lewis notched 12 kills and Tori Hanson scooped up 12 digs to lead Concordia. Elizabet Mohr, the country's top setter in terms of assists per set, had 37 assists.

UMD heads back on the road as it travels to No. 10 Southwest Minnesota State University on Friday and the University of Sioux Falls Saturday.