The third-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth held off challenges from both the University of Findlay and No. 25 Flagler College to open the season today in the Flagler Saints Invitational in St. Augustine, Fla. The Bulldogs fended off the Oilers in the opening match, winning in five sets 25-23, 25-14, 21-25, 16-25, 18-16. UMD downed the Saints in straight sets 25-23, 25-22, 25-20 to finish 2-0.

The Bulldogs have not dropped the last 24 matches on opening day dating back to 2004.

Overall, it was a defensive stranglehold as neither side was able to attack efficiently. UMD finished the day with a .216 attack clip while limiting the two clubs to an .129 combined attack percentage. It outhit Findlay .216-.153 and Flagler .142-.096.

The first match featured three Bulldogs registering double digits kills with senior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen leading all players with 15. Senior right side hitter Sarah Kelly had 14 kills in 27 attempts. Kelly, the 2017 AVCA first team All-American, added 10 digs, three blocks and a service ace. Junior outside hitter Hanna Meyer posted a career high 13 kills nearly doubling her personal high of seven kills against Michigan Tech last year. Junior defensive specialist Keena Seiffert racked up a match-high 21 digs while junior middle blocker Abby Thor was in on half of the club's 10 blocks.

From the look of the second set, UMD was set to roll Findlay (1-1) in three sets. The Bulldogs ended the second frame on a 15-4 run and hit .519 in the set. The Oilers responded to win the next two sets after finding some rhythm in the offense. Findlay hit .360 and .333 in the third and fourth sets, respectively, and the Bulldogs were unable to clean up their errors. For the match, UMD accounted for 63 errors in the five-set match including 23 in the service game. The OIlers had 12 aces with three apiece in the first, third and fourth sets.

The Bulldog defense stepped up and prevailed in the decisive fifth set fending off four match points. Meyer pounded three of the Bulldogs' last four points and thwarted away two of the Oiler match points. Kelly and sophomore middle blocker Lexi Langenfeld put the match to rest on a double block after Meyer's 13th kill gave the maroon-and-gold match point.

UMD dominated in kills (47 to 26) and digs (58 to 36) in the three-set sweep over Flagler (1-1). This time the two-set lead lasted. With the third set knotted at 12, the Bulldogs, backed by Morgen, went on a 6-1 blitz to take control of the final set. Sophomore outside hitter Kate Berg wrapped the night up with her second service ace of the match. Berg, the native of Medina, Minn., also notched six kills and 10 digs in the victory.

Freshman defensive specialist Sydney Lanoue was the lone rookie to see action. The Tracy, Minn., native recorded nine digs and donned the white libero jersey in the third-and-final set. Morgen (15 kills) and Kelly (14) combined for more kills than the entire Flagler offense (26). Junior setter Emily Torve compiled 53 and 41 assists on the first day of action.
 
UMD concludes tomorrow's action of the Flagler Saints Invitational with Erskine College and Saint Leo University. First serve begins at 9:00 a.m. central.