Make it nine straight sweeps and 32 consecutive wins over Bemidji State University for the No. 6 University of Minnesota Duluth on Military Appreciation Night at AMSOIL Arena.
The Bulldogs, who played their first-ever match inside the confines of AMSOIL, claimed all three sets by convincing margins in front of 1,289 spectators for the 2018 home opener. UMD took the sets by scores of 25-19, 25-14 and 25-14 to improve to 7-2 overall and 1-0 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Beavers (3-6, 0-1 NSIC) dropped their fifth straight match and have beat the Bulldogs three times in their 95 lifetime meetings. UMD's 92 wins over Bemidji State is the most over any one team in program history.
Senior right side hitter Sarah Kelly notched a match-high 12 kills as she hit .550 for the match. She anchored the Bulldog attack that hammered down 47 kills and hit .282 on the evening. Kelly also contributed seven digs and four aces, all coming consecutively in the opening frame to set the tone of the match.
The Beavers were effective in the first set on the offensive end, making only one error and outhitting UMD .294-.209. However, serve receive was a problem as the Bulldogs piled on seven aces over the course of the match.
Anna Averkamp, who collected 10 kills on the night, led the way for Bemidji State. Mary Campbell gathered 20 assists in her first full attempt at setting. The freshman right side hitter was taking over the spot of injured setter Maddie Mackinac. Once the Bulldogs adjusted to the attack they kept the Beavers to .000 hitting clip over the final two sets.
Bemidji State finished the match with a .100 hitting percentage stretching the Bulldogs streak of holding opponents under a .194 hitting clip to nine -- all matches in 2018.
Senior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen equalled her season match-high in digs in the first set, scooping up 10 digs alone in the frame. Morgen ended the night with 12 digs and nine kills. Junior defensive specialist Keena Seiffert and sophomore outside hitter Kate Berg nearly covered the entire floor after the Beavers switched their attack up. The duo each had a match-high 16 digs including astounding 12 digs in the third set by Berg. The Medina, Minn., native saved many would-be kills sacrificing her body to keep rallies alive. In all, UMD dug out 60 of the 100 attacks.
Sophomore middle blocker Lexy Langenfeld had both of UMD's solo blocks and her four kills matched a career high as well.
The Bulldogs travel to play the University of Minnesota Crookston on Saturday, Sept. 8. It is the first of four straight NSIC road matches as UMD won't return to Romano Gymnasium until Sept. 21.
