DULUTH, Minn. – The No. 10 University of Minnesota Duluth volleyball had a season-low .037 hitting percentage as Minnesota State University rallied from a set down to knock off the Bulldogs in four sets Friday night at Romano Gymnasium.
 
How It Happened
Minnesota Duluth scored the first three points of the opening set and held off the Mavericks (10-9, 5-6 NSIC) for much of the set, until a 7-1 gave Minnesota State its first lead at 23-22. The Bulldogs were able to recover, and a Cianna Selbitschka kill, followed by back-to-back Selbitschka aces gave UMD the opening set 25-23. Selbitschka was responsive for nine points in the set.
 
Minnesota State jumped out a 9-4 lead in the second set and controlled much of the set to even the match with a 25-17 set win. UMD fell behind again early in the third set, but quickly responded and took its first lead at 9-8 following a Madison Gordon kill. The Bulldogs led 16-13, but the Mavericks answered with four straight points to regain the lead. Minnesota State then led 23-19, but the Bulldogs took the next five points thanks to kills from Selbitschka and Grace Daak to have set point at 24-23. However, following a service error, the Mavericks took the next two points to take the set at 26-24.
 
The fourth set mirrored the third set with the Mavericks taking an early lead. Minnesota Duluth went on a 7-0 run that included a pair of Kaylyn Madison service aces and then led 18-12 later in the set. Minnesota State got eight of the next 11 points to get back within one at 21-20. A Hope Schjenken kill gave UMD a pair of set points at 24-22, but the Bulldogs would record errors in three of the next four rallies to drop the set and the match 26-24.
 
Top Performers
Selbitschka matched a season-high with 19 kills for the Bulldogs. Gordon had 34 assists and a team-high 12 digs. UMD had a season-high 12 services aces with Madison matching a career-high with four aces.
 
Up Next
The Bulldogs (14-6, 7-5 NSIC) will No. 2 Concordia University St. Paul tomorrow (Saturday) at Romano Gymnasium. The Golden Bears also lost on Friday at St. Cloud State University. It will be the annual Pink Match for UMD as the Bulldogs and Bears will begin at 2 p.m.