Kearney, Neb. – The No. 6 (2nd seeded) University of Minnesota Duluth took on the No. 9 (7th seeded) Central Missouri Jennies on Thursday afternoon in the opening round of the NCAA DII Central Regional Championships. The Bulldogs would beat the Jennies, 3-1 (25-23, 23-35, 25-11, 25-19) and improve to 25-6 on the year.
 
The Bulldogs swing .280 and block six on the day, while the Jennies swung .176 clip and blocked 13 on the day.
 
The Bulldogs opened the scoring in the match by going on a putting up the first two points before the Jennies were able to get on the board. UMD would ride a three-point streak before dropping the second point to UCM. The Bulldogs would drop three straight before sophomore outside hitter Meredith Sutton would hammer one home to grab the serve back to UMD's side. The Jennies would grab two straight before the Bulldogs would grab a point to lead 10-6. Senior setter Emily Balts would drop an ace. UCM was able to score two more before junior outside hitter Kate Berg would floor one. The teams traded points before UMD was able to score two straight and go on a 3-1 rally to t take a 15-10 lead. The Jennies were able to grab three points before the Bulldogs were able to grab three and take a 17-13 lead. They would trade points before UCM would take its first timeout at 19-14 in favor of UMD. The Jennies would score right out of the timeout, with the Bulldogs scoring the next. The teams would again trade points before UCM was able to score two and pull themselves to within three, forcing the Bulldogs to take a timeout at 20-17. The Jennies would serve into the net, giving serve back to UMD. The Jennies would grab the next two points before senior middle blocker Abby Thor would drop one to the floor, forcing UCM to take their second timeout. The Jennies scored first out of the timeout before UMD would score the next. UCM would grab the next point, then grab the next to force the Bulldogs to take their second timeout. The Bulldogs would drop the next point, but would grab the final point and win the set, 25-23.
 
Balts would serve to open the second, with sophomore middle blocker Summer Ballard flooring one to score the first point. Balts would drop an ace to continue the scoring. The Jennies would grab the third point and score the fourth to tie things at two a side before Ballard would drop another one to grab the serve back. Sutton would drop one in to keep the lead, with her scoring the fifth in the set as well. UCM would grab the next three to tie things at five a side. The Jennies grabbed a two-point lead before UMD was able to score another, but the Jennies would score again to keep a two-point lead. Senior right side hitter Hanna Meyer would smoke one home to bring the Bulldogs within one. The Jennies would grab a four-point lead before the Bulldogs would call a timeout at 11-7, in favor of UCM. Out of the timeout, Sutton would bring the serve back to UMD's side. The Jennies would grab the next point, before the Jennies would commit a net violation. The teams traded points before UCM would go on a three-point run. UMD was able to grab the next point before the Jennies would grab the six-point lead back. The Bulldogs took their second timeout when UCM was able to score again and go up 17-10. Ballard would grab a kill right out of the timeout, enroute to a four-point rally and a three-point deficit before the Jennies were able to score again. The Bulldogs would grab the next and again, pull within three again, but UCM would grab the next two and take a 20-15 lead. Sutton would drop in a kill, starting a two-point rally before redshirt freshman Madison Gordon would drop an ace and force the Jennies to take a timeout. UCM took the first point out of the timeout, with Sutton grabbing a block to pull within three. The Jennies would take the four-point lead back before Thor and Berg would grab a block and pull the Bulldogs within two. Berg would drop one in to pull UMD within one, forcing a UCM second timeout at 22-21. Balts and Ballard scored a gargantuan block to tie things at 22 a side. The Jennies would score the next two, forcing match point. UMD would grab the next, but UCM would close the set, 25-23.
 
UCM would open serving in the third, with the Bulldogs grabbing the first point. Ballard would pinpoint the next kill before the Jennies would score their first. UMD would score the next before UCM scored their second. The teams would trade points before the Jennies grabbed their third point and tie things, three a side. UMD would grab the next and score two and take a two-point lead. UCM pulled within one but the Bulldogs score again and maintain the lead. UMD would again and keep scoring, dropping four straight before UCM took a timeout at 9-4. The Bulldogs grabbed three points straight out of the timeout before the Jennies could score again. Thor smoked one past the UCM defense, starting a two-point rally. The Jennies would score one before hitting one out of bounds and bringing the serve back to UMD. Meyer dropped one in for the Bulldogs, forcing UCM to take their second timeout. UMD would score the first out of the timeout, and Berg hammered one home on the ensuing point. The Bulldogs would score three straight before the Jennies were able to score again. UMD would grab the serve back off a kill from Berg. UCM was able to score the next before dropping one out of bounds, with UMD carrying a 21-8 lead. The teams traded blow for blow until the Bulldogs were able to force match point at 24-11. Berg would finish the set out with a rocket, giving the Bulldogs a 25-11 set win and a 2-1 set lead.
 
Bulldogs would open the fourth set scoring, with UCM dropping one out of bounds. The Jennies would score the next before Ballard smoked one home. The teams traded points, the Jennies would grab a lead bigger than one at 7-5. Balts would drop one in to bring the Bulldogs back within one when sophomore defensive specialist Sydney Lanoue would drop an ace and the Bulldogs going on a three-point run. The Jennies would tie things back at eight, with Thor ripping one by UCM to grab the serve back. The squads would again trade points, neither team taking more than a one-point lead until the Bulldogs were able to score three straight and grab a two-point lead at 16-14, forcing UCM to take their first timeout. Lanoue dropped an ace out of the timeout, grabbing a 17-14 lead before the Jennies were able to score again. The Bulldogs would drop another point, forcing a second Jennies timeout. UCM would score right away before Berg would drop one in. UMD would carry a 22-18 lead, Thor would hammer one home and keep the Bulldogs with a five-point lead. UCM scored one before UMD was able to close things out at 25-19, taking the match.
 
Gordon would drop one ace, dig 10 and grab one assist. Lanoue would drop three aces with six digs. Sutton would floor 16 in the match, swinging at a .242 clip for the match. Ballard would kill 12, swinging .360 and blocking three. Berg would drop 13 kills, digging 11 and blocking two. Defensive specialist Keena Seiffert would assist on two with 22 digs. Balts finished with a double-double and would dish 58 assists, dig 13 and kill three. Meyer would kill seven and block two. Thor finished with a match high 18 kills, three blocks and a .593 hitting percentage.
 
The Bulldogs move on to the Semi-Finals against No. 3 Concordia-St. Paul tomorrow at 5 PM. This will be the fourth match-up between the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponents.