ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- The sixth-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth volleyball program opened up its stay at the Best Western Plus Kelly Inn Huskies Volleyball Classic knocking off No. 21 Michigan Technological University 3-0 at Halenbeck Hall on Thursday.

No. 6 UMD (4-1) made quick work of the Huskies (25-22, 25-14, 25-18) for the team's third-straight victory on the season while No. 21 Michigan Tech (3-2) drops yet another decision to a team from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Michigan Tech jumped out to an early 7-2 lead in the first set, but the Bulldogs roared back eventually knotting the game at 17. After a Michigan Tech timeout at 19-all, UMD took its first lead of the day at 20-19 and held on for an eventual 25-22 win. The Bulldogs kept the Huskies at arm's length in the second set. Despite Tech drawing even at 11-11, UMD would score the final 10 points for a 25-14 victory. The Huskies hit just .111 in the middle frame.

The momentum did not slow there for the Bulldogs, who climbed to a 13-8 lead to begin the third. Tech climbed back into the game with three-straight points, but a timeout by head coach Jim Boos helped UMD steady themselves, scoring the next two points to extend the lead back to 15-11 and built on that lead for an eventual 25-18 clincher.

Sophomore outside hitter Meredith Sutton led the Bulldogs with 16 kills on the day, while junior outside Kate Berg added 11 on the day. Each hit .345 on the day, and Berg had just one error on her attack. Senior libero Keena Seifert grabbed 12 digs to pace UMD. Senior setter Emily Balts had 31 assists and a pair of kills, falling one dig shy of a double-double with nine. Second-year redshirt setter Madison Gordon had five service aces, sophomore defensive specialist Sydney Lanoue four, and the Bulldogs 11 as a team in the match.

Michigan Tech hit just .188 against UMD. Olivia Ghormley had 11 kills to lead the Huskies, hitting .321 herself. Laura De Marchi tallied 28 assists, while Grace Novotny had 10 digs to lead MTU.

UP NEXT
Play continues at the Huskies Volleyball Classic on Friday as UMD takes on both South Dakota School of Mines at 11 a.m. and No. 14 Wheeling Jesuit University at 5:30 p.m. Each match will be played at St. Cloud State's Halenbeck Hall gymnasium.

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