The No. 5 University of Minnesota Duluth took on the No. 11 Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs on Saturday evening. The Bulldogs won the last three sets of the match to complete a comeback and improve to 19-2 overall (12-1 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) record, while the Mustangs carry a 13-8 overall (7-6 in the NSIC) record.
 
The Bulldogs swung at a .193 clip for the match (swinging .375, .175 and .545 in the final three sets). SMSU swung at a clip of .215 for the evening. UMD finished with 11 blocks, while the Mustangs had eight.
 
The first set saw SMSU hop out to an early 4-0 lead. The Bulldogs were able to battle back and rattle of six straight points, taking a 6-4 lead. The teams would go back and forth until the Mustangs were able to rally three points and take a 16-14 lead. They wouldn't give up the lead, and UMD was unable to rattle off more than a point at a time. SMSU would take the set 25-18.
 
In the second, the Mustangs would strike the first two points before UMD would be able to put one on the board. The teams stayed within three points of each other, with the Bulldogs staying ahead for a majority of the set. SMSU would battle their way back and eventually rallying four straight points off to take the tightly contested set, 25-22.
 
The Bulldogs changed things up in the third, taking the first two points. The Mustangs would drop one on the board, but UMD would rally off nine straight to take an 11-1 lead. They didn't look back after that, not allowing SMSU to get back into the set, and taking the third 25-13.
 
The fourth would see the Bulldogs again take the first points, hopping out to a 3-0 lead. SMSU would score one before UMD rattled off another three points to go up 6-1. The Mustangs would chip and eventually pull themselves to within one point, but UMD kept the pedal to the floor and stayed ahead for the set, winning out at 25-23.
 
In the final set, the Bulldogs took the first point before SMSU would tie things back at one. UMD hopped out to a 5-1 lead and didn't look back after that, not committing one error in the set and going 6-6 on side out attempts.
 
Junior outside hitter Kate Berg finished the match with 15 kills, bringing her career total to 1,008 kills. She joins the UMD Bulldogs Volleyball 1,000 kill club as the 21^st Bulldog to hit 1,000 or more kills. She also had 10 digs and four blocks on the night.
 
Junior defensive specialist Megan Freeberg had two aces in the evening. Junior middle blocker Lexy Langenfeld would finish with 10 kills, swinging at a .368 clip and blocking five. Senior defensive specialist Keena Seiffert would dig a match high 23 on the night, dishing two assists along the way. Senior setter Emily Balts would dish 47 in the match, blocking three and flooring two along the way. Senior right side hitter Hanna Meyer would floor nine, swinging at a .320 clip and blocking two. Senior middle blocker Abby Thor would hammer 12 home, assisting on one and digging three.
 
The Bulldogs are back in action on Halloween night, taking on St. Cloud State at Halenbeck Hall in St. Cloud, Minn at 6pm.