ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The 12^th-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth volleyball team dropped the opening set, but responded by taking the next three sets to defeat eighth-ranked St. Cloud State University in four sets Thursday night in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play.
 
How It Happened
The Bulldogs feel behind early in the first set as the Huskies (14-5, 7-3 NSIC) built a 21-11 advantage. However, UMD continued to fight going on an 8-0 run thanks to three kills from Hope Schjenken and a service ace from Kaylyn Madison to get back within two points. A few points later a Payton Addink kill tied the set at 22-22, but St. Cloud State would manage to hold off the Bulldogs, recording the final three points to take the set 25-22.
 
Despite dropping the first set, the momentum started to side with the Bulldogs. Three kills and another service ace gave UMD a 5-3 lead in the second set. The Bulldogs went on a 7-1 later in the set extended the margin to seven. The Huskies got within two late, but Minnesota Duluth evened the match at 1-1 by taking the second set 25-21.
 
The pivotal third set saw St. Cloud State hold a narrow edge for the first third of the set. The Bulldogs then scored five straight points to take a 15-12 lead. After the Huskies got within one at 21-20, points by Madison Gordon and Grace Daak gave UMD cushion and a St. Cloud State error gave the Bulldogs the third set 25-22.
 
The fourth set was tight throughout featuring 14 ties and neither team leading by more than three points. With the set tied at 21-21, a Cianna Selbitschka kill made it 22-21 UMD. Then following a challenge reversal to tie the match again at 22-22, the Huskies had a service error and then Daak and Selbitschka recorded a block to make it 24-22. The Huskies fended off one match point, but Selbitschka made sure to end the match by putting the ball down to give Minnesota Duluth the set and the match 25-23.
 
Top Performers
Selbitschka led UMD with 15 kills, followed by Schjenken with 14 kills and Daak with 10 kills. Schjenken had 14 kills with just one hitting error for a season-high .591 hitting percentage. Selbitschka added 13 digs for her 10^th double-double of the season.
 
Gordon had 42 assists to eclipse 3,000 for her career. Madison finished with 19 digs and Addink added a career-high 17 digs.
 
The Bulldogs recorded at least 10 total blocks for the fourth straight match, led by Schjenken with six blocks. Daak had four blocks and, in doing so, moves into 10^th place in program history in career blocks (287).
 
Up Next
The Bulldogs (13-5, 6-4 NSIC) return to Romano Gymnasium on Saturday to face the University of Minnesota Crookston. Action is set to begin at 4 p.m. on Family Weekend.