The University of Minnesota Duluth took on No. 11 Wayne State College on Friday evening. The Bulldogs improved to 16-2 (9-1 in the NSIC) after beating the Wildcats, who now carry a 16-3 (7-3) on the season. The Bulldogs beat Wayne State in five sets 25-18, 24-26, 21-25, 25-14, 15-11.
 
UMD would swing at a .238 clip for the evening, while Wayne State would swing at a .095 clip. The Bulldogs would finish with 11.0 blocks, and the Wildcats would block 9.0 on the evening.
 
The first set saw the teams battle back and forth, as the score would know up at three a side before UMD would gain traction. The Bulldogs would rattle off three and take a 7-4 lead on the Wildcats before they would score. The two teams would take the score to 12-6 before Wayne State would call a timeout. The teams would battle, trading points for the rest of the way before UMD would finish out the set 25-18.
 
The second set would see the Bulldogs hop out to t a 5-1 lead before WSC would find any momentum. The Wildcats would bring the score back to within two at 7-5. The teams would stay even throughout the whole set, with both sides calling both of their timeouts. Wayne State would take the tightly contested set, 26-24.
 
In the third, UMD would take an early 3-1 lead before the Wildcats struck two points off. The Bulldogs then would take a 9-4 lead, and Wayne State would drop two points, keeping it close. UMD would hold a tight lead until the Wildcats would rattle four points and take a 19-18 lead, forcing the Bulldogs to take a timeout. UMD would tie it at 20 a piece, but would not be able to come back, dropping the set 25-21.
 
The fourth set saw the Wildcats take two points early, but UMD would bring the score even at two and take a one point lead. Wayne State would take the lead back in two points, but the Bulldogs would strike back and take the lead again at 11-10, never giving it back past that point. UMD would find their stride throughout the set, winning out at 25-14.
 
The fifth set would start back and forth, with 11 ties happening through the sets first 20 points. The Bulldogs would rattle off two points and take a 13-11 lead before the Wildcats took a timeout. It wouldn't shake UMD, finishing the set out at 15-11 and the match at three sets to two.
 
Redshirt freshman Madison Gordon would finish with four assists and 10 digs on the match. Sophomore defensive specialist Sydney Lanoue would finish with 20 digs in the match. Sophomore outside hitter Meredith Sutton would finish with 11 kills, swinging at a .381 clip with four assists and 10 digs in the match. Sophomore middle blocker Summer Ballard would strike down 12 in the match, finishing with 7 blocks on the day (one solo, six assisted). Junior outside hitter Kate Berg would finish with 26 kills, getting two assists, two blocks and 13 digs along the way. Senior defensive specialist Keena Seiffert would dig 28 balls in the match, assisting on three points and serving up on ace as well. Senior setter Emily Balts would finish with 61 assists on the day, striking down five kills and assisting with two blocks. Senior right side hitter Hanna Meyer would floor 14 on the day, blocking five and digging four. Senior middle blocker Abby Thor would strike down seven, blocking four and digging one.
 
 The Bulldogs are back in action tomorrow at 2PM, facing off against the Augustana Vikings in Sioux Falls, SD.