The No. 3 University of Minnesota Duluth took on the Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles on Saturday evening. The Bulldogs made quick work of UMC, sweeping the Golden Eagles 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-18). UMD improves to 20-3 overall (13-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference). Crookston drops to 4-19 overall (2-12 in the NSIC).

The Bulldogs finished the evening swinging at a .313 clip for the match, collecting three blocks in the match, while the Golden Eagles finish with a .179 clip, blocking two in the affair.

The match opened up with UMC scoring the first two points and gaining the early lead. UMD would take charge and go on a 4-1 rally to take the lead over UMC, 5-2. After the teams went back and forth with each other, the Golden Eagles would rattle off two straight and take a 12-10 lead. the Bulldogs put the pedal to the metal, gained back the lead and wouldn't look back in the set. UMD would rattle off five straight and take the lead back, 15-12. The Bulldogs kept pushing and would finish the set 25-19.

The second would open with the teams jarring for the lead, with the score coming to a 2-2 tie. UMC would drop three points in a row to take a 5-2 lead again. The Bulldogs saw to it to grab that lead back, flooring seven straight and taking the lead back 9-5 before the Golden Eagles were able to score again. After one serve, UMD would again score consecutive points, dropping five this time and picking up a 14-6 lead. The teams would go back and forth, with the Bulldogs scoring four straight during the span, taking a 21-10 lead. UMD would finish the set out, 25-14.

After a short intermission between sets, it was UMC scoring three to UMD's one to open the final set. The teams would go back and forth to battle for the lead for the next 26 points, with neither team being able to find any momentum or score more than two points in a row, bringing the score to 16-14 in favor of the Golden Eagles. The Bulldogs would break through, rattling off three straight and taking a 17-16 lead. UMC would drop one before UMD would hammer seven home, taking a 24-17 lead. UMD would take the set 25-18, and complete the sweep 3-0.

Bulldogs redshirt freshman setter Madison Gordon would finish with five digs, one ace and one assist. Sophomore outside hitter Brooke Scheurer would drop 12 kills in the match, swinging at a .379 clip and one block. Junior outside hitter Kate Berg would accumulate 11 kills, digging 21 along the way. Senior defensive specialist Keena Seiffert would dig 18 in the match, gaining two assists as well. Senior setter Emily Balts would dish out 41 assists in the win, gaining two kills. Senior right side hitter Hanna Meyer would drop in 12 on the day, swinging at a .440 clip and blocking two. Senior middle blocker Abby Thor would floor a match high 13 in the victory, swinging at a .632 clip and blocking one. Senior middle blocker Bailey Ramich would drop in two kills, gaining two blocks along the way.

UMD takes back to Romano on Tuesday night, playing host to Bemidji State at 6:00 PM in Duluth, Minn.