The No. 3 ranked University of Minnesota Duluth traveled to St. Cloud to take on No. 11 ranked St. Cloud State Huskies on Thursday evening. The Bulldogs were unable to take three sets, dropping the match 3-1 and now carry a 19-3 overall (12-2 in the NSIC) record, while SCSU moves to 18-4 overall (10-4 in the NSIC).
 
The Bulldogs would strike at a .124 rate, while the Huskies swung at a .188 clip for the evening. UMD would block five, with SCSU blocking 13.
 
The first set saw the two top 15 teams live up to the ranks. The Bulldogs would start off hot to a three point lead, going up 3-0. UMD would carry a strong lead of four points at 8-4. The Huskies would chip away at the lead, eventually tying the set at 11 all. The two teams would go back and forth before SCSU was able to take a lead, rattling off three straight and taking a lead 17-15. UMD would attempt to chip away at the lead, but the Bulldogs would drop the first set, 22-25.
 
The second set saw the teams go punch for punch to start things off, with the two teams trading points all the way up to five a side. The Huskies would strike three straight, giving them a 8-5 lead. UMD would chip two points away at the lead as the Bulldogs pulled within one point at 7-8. UMD would continue to battle back to a tie at 10 a piece. UMD would pull to a three point lead at 14-11 before SCSU would drop three straight and tie it t 14 a side. The Bulldogs rallied three straight to take a 17-14 lead before the Huskies would call a timeout. SCSU would score three and UMD would drop two to bring it to 19-17 before the Bulldogs would call a timeout. The Huskies would tie things at 20 a side before UMD would call their final timeout of the set. The teams would tie at 24 a side, forcing extra points. SCSU would drop two points and take the 26-24.
 
The Bulldogs would come out with a fire, taking a 4-0 start. UMD would keep a lead and pull ahead 7-2 before the Huskies would take a timeout. The Bulldogs pulled ahead to 10-3 before SCSU would chip its way back in and pull to within three at 11-8 before UMD would take a timeout. The Huskies would tie things at 11 a side before SCSU took the lead 13-12. The Bulldogs would start to hammer the ball home and take a 18-14 lead before the Huskies took their final timeout of the set. SCSU would chip back into the match before UMD would take a timeout at 22-20. The Bulldogs would keep strong and finish the set 25-22.
 
The final set saw SCSU hop out to an earl 4-0 lead before UMD was able to drop a point. The Bulldogs would chip away at the four point deficit, coming to within two points at 4-6 before SCSU was able to gain a bigger lead. UMD would battle hard, taking a timeout when down 8-14. The Bulldogs would score one and give up three before taking their second timeout of the set at 9-17. UMD would again, chip away at the lead and pulling to within four at 19-23, but couldn't complete the comeback and would drop the set 19-25.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Meredith Sutton would strike 11 to the floor, with one solo block and one block assist. Sophomore middle blocker Summer Ballard would collect four kills, swinging at a .444 clip while blocking two. Junior outside hitter Kate Berg would floor a match high 18 kills, assisting in one and dropping 18 points. Senior defensive specialist Keena Seiffert would dig a match high 27, assisting in two and dropping one ace along the way. Senior setter Emily Balts would dish out 54 in the loss, digging 12 and blocking one along the way. Senior right side hitter Hanna Meyer would floor 13, swinging at a .250 clip and blocking one.  Senior middle blocker Abby Thor would strike eight down and block one in the match.
 
The Bulldogs are back at home on Saturday, playing host to the Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles at 4 PM at Romano Gym in Duluth, Minn.