The No. 4 University of Minnesota Duluth took on Minnesota State University on Sat. afternoon, a program that is receiving votes in the American Coaches Volleyball Association poll as of last week. UMD would win in four sets 25-20, 25-17, 21-25, 25-23, and improve to 11-1 on the year.

The Bulldogs struck at a .226 clip for the day (168 total attacks), while the Mavericks were swinging at a .201 clip (144 total attacks).

The first set saw UMD start strong and get off to a 7-4 lead. MSU would chip away at the lead, but the Bulldogs would hold steady and keep the lead. The Mavericks would eventually call a timeout at 19-13. The two teams would trade points for the next 10 serves before UMD would call a timeout at 24-19. The Bulldogs would finish the set 25-20.

In the second, UMD would again start hot, coming out of the gate 9-3 before MSU called a timeout in attempt to slow the Bulldogs down. The next few points were back and forth, with the Mavericks chipping at the lead and bringing the score to 16-13 before head coach Jim Boos called a timeout. UMD was able to its' foot on the gas after that and finish out the set 25-17.

The third set, MSU came out swinging this time, going up 7-2 out the gate. The Bulldogs would chip away and bring the score to 5-7. The Mavericks would not give up the lead and stay ahead, bringing the score to 15-9 before UMD called their second and final timeout of the set. MSU would keep the lead, but the Bulldogs would chip away at the lead and force the Mavericks to call their second timeout at 15-21. UMD could not catch MSU as they closed out the set 25-21.

In the final set, the two teams kept things tight before the Bulldogs would gain a slight advantage at 7-4. Ashton Lee of the Mavericks went down in the point, and MSU would rally three points to bring it to a tie at 7-7. The two teams would trade blows, never getting more than a point in a row bring it to 10-10. UMD would put together a 6-3 rally before the Mavericks would rattle off four and take the lead, 17-16. The Bulldogs took a timeout, and again the teams went point for point. UMD found its' footing and would take the lead, finishing the set 25-23.

Senior Defensive Specialist Keena Seiffert would finish the game with 23 digs, adding three assists along the way. Junior outside hitter Kate Berg would finish with 18 kills, hitting .250, adding an assist, one ace and digging 15 along the way. Sophomore outside hitter Meredith Sutton hammered 17 home, swinging at a .278 clip and digging four. Senior middle blocker Abby Thor had one block on the evening, adding nine kills, five digs and one assist. Senior right side hitter Hanna Meyer had a block as well, adding nine kills and three digs. Sophomore middle blocker Summer Ballard had five kills, swinging at a .333 clip for the evening. Junior middle blocker Lexy Langenfeld had three kills. Senior setter Emily Balts had 52 assists in the contest, adding two kills and five digs. Sophomore defensive specialist Sydney Lanoue had nine digs, one assist and two aces. Redshirt freshman Madison Gordon had three digs and one ace.

The Bulldogs will take to the road next week to take on UMary in Bismark, ND (Oct. 4) and then head over to Minot, ND, to take on Minot State (Oct. 5).