The sixth-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth held off a strong attack from No. 19 Cal State L.A. on Thursday night. The Bulldogs swept the Golden Eagles in straight sets 25-21, 25-17, 25-23 to start the year 1-0.
 
The Bulldogs have not dropped the last 25 matches on opening day dating back to 2004.
 
Both teams were attacking right alongside each other, with both teams managing to finish the match with matching .204 attacking clips.
 
In the first set, UMD had five different players with kills, with senior outside hitter Kate Berg leading the way with four kills, sophomore outside hitter Meredith Sutton had 3. Senior setter Emily Balts was the one to look for with assisting, dishing out 10 assists in the first set.
 
The second set saw the Bulldogs take handle of the match, starting off the set leading 6-1. UMD saw the match through, with Balts handing out 15 assists while also getting a kill of her own. Berg finished the set with seven more kills, while junior middle blocker Lexy Langenfeld came away with four kills of her own.
 
The third set was a battle, with the teams battling back and forth the entire way through the finishing set of the match. Neither team would trail by more than four points the entire set, with eight tie ups throughout the set. UMD would prevail, finishing off the set and the match seeing the Bulldogs off to a 1-0 start to the 2019 season.
 
UMD took the edge in kills (41-35) and only had a total of 6 blocks the entire match. Berg lead the way, with a total of 13 kills and 15 points. Sutton followed suite, finishing with 10 kills and 10.5 points. Balts dished out a total of 32 assists in the match, while getting two kills of her own. There were two solo blocks, coming from senior right side hitter Hanna Meyer and Langenfeld.
 
The Bulldogs continue action tomorrow, squaring off against the Cal State - San Bernardino. First serve is at 2:00 p.m. central.