DULUTH, Minn. – The 10^th-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth volleyball team is at Romano Gymnasium this weekend facing Minnesota State University on Friday and then second-ranked Concordia University St. Paul on Saturday for its annual Pink Match.
 
MATCH SCHEDULE
Friday
6 p.m. vs. Minnesota State
Saturday
2 p.m. vs. #2 Concordia St. Paul
 
Watch: www.umdbulldogs.com/watch
Live Stats: https://umdbulldogs.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
 
Promo Information
Saturday vs. #2 Concordia St. Paul
Pink Match/Pack the Gym/Bite the Bears (PLEDGE FOR UMD STATS)
 
Purchase Tickets
 
About the Bulldogs
AVCA Ranking: 10
Record: 14-5, 7-4 NSIC
NSIC Standing: T-5^th
 
The Bulldogs moved up two spots to No. 12 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II poll.
UMD defeated both No. 8 St. Cloud State University and the University of Minnesota Crookston last week.
The Bulldogs are 9-1 away from Duluth thus far this year and 5-4 at Romano Gymnasium.
UMD has suffered more than four home losses in season just once since 2013 (2021).
This will be the only time during the regular season, the Bulldogs will face Minnesota State or Concordia St. Paul
Head Coach Jim Boos reached milestone victory 550 in Saturday's triumph over Minnesota Crookston.
Senior middle blocker Grace Daak was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
Daak, who entered the program's top 10 for career blocks against St. Cloud State, averaged 1.29 blocks per set in the two victories last week.
Daak now has 292 total blocks in her career.
Madison Gordon eclipsed 3,000 career assists last week.
Gordon ranks 14^th in NCAA Division II averaging 10.77 assists per set.
Minnesota Duluth ranks third in the NSIC in hitting percentage (.252) and opponent hitting percentage (.162).
Cianna Selbitschka enters the weekend with 959 career kills and Kaylyn Madison with 932 career digs.
UMD is 2-5 when they have a sub .200 hitting percentage and 12-0 when above .200.

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Scouting Minnesota State
AVCA Ranking: NR
Record: 9-9, 4-6 NSIC
NSIC Standing: T-9^th
 
The Mavericks had a four-match win streak snapped last week with a pair of losses to the University of Sioux Falls and No. 1 ranked Wayne State College.
The last eight MSU matches have ended in three sets with the Mavericks 4-4 during that stretch.
The Mavericks rank third in the NSIC in blocking, averaging 2.21 blocks per set.
Emily Kern ranks fourth in the conference, averaging 1.03 blocks per set.
Offensively, they rank 10^th or lower in each of the main statistical categories.
Kiya Durant is fifth in the league with a .358 hitting percentage.
Sophie Tietz leads the team, averaging 3.45 points per set.
 
Previous Meeting: (All-Time Series: UMD leads 53-18)
The Bulldogs have won eight straight over the Mavericks, including the last three matches at Romano Gymnasium by way of sweeps. Minnesota State's last win in Duluth came back in 2011 and they have only won twice at Romano since 2000. (2008)

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Scouting Concordia St. Paul
AVCA Ranking: 2
Record: 18-1, 9-1 NSIC
NSIC Standing: 2^nd
 
The Golden Bears will be at No. 13 St. Cloud State on Friday before facing the Bulldogs on Saturday.
CSP is coming off a four-set victory over No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State on Thursday.
Concordia St. Paul has played at home each of the last two weeks and hit the road for the first time since late September.
The lone setback for the Golden Bears was a three-set loss at Wayne State to open the conference schedule back in mid-September.
The Bears lead NCAA Division II in kills per set (15.44) and assists per set (14.40), while ranking third nationally in hitting percentage (.298).
Teagan Starkey leads the country in assists per set (13.38) and has been named NSIC Setter of the Week five times this year.
Starkey was an AVCA First Team All-American last season.
Sophia Anderson ranks second in the NSIC averaging 3.84 kills/set, while Jasmine Mulvihill is fifth at 3.62 kills/set.
Mulvihill was also a First Team AVCA All-American last season for the second time in her career after being named the 2019 AVCA Freshman of the Year.
Jamie Guptill leads the team, however, with a .352 hitting percentage.
 
Previous Meeting: (All-Time Series: CSP leads 31-28)
The Golden Bears have won six straight in the series, including three wins over the Bulldogs last season … Concordia eliminated UMD in the semifinals of the NSIC Tournament and then ended their season in the NCAA Central Regional semifinals … However, the Bulldogs have won three of the last four meetings against the Golden Bears in Duluth.