DULUTH, Minn. – Second-ranked Concordia University St. Paul edged No. 10 University of Minnesota Duluth in a tight first set and carried that momentum over the next two sets to defeat the Bulldogs in three sets Saturday in Romano Gymnasium.
 
How It Happened
UMD wore pink jerseys for its annual pink match in front of nearly 900 spectators at Romano Gymnasium. The teams went back-and-forth in the opening set, which featured 16 ties and neither team leading by more than three points.
 
With the set tied at 22-22, the Golden Bears (19-2, 10-2 NSIC) put together back-to-back kills to set up a pair of set points. However, a kill by Payton Addink and an attack error by the Bears tied the set at 24-24. Unfortunately, Concordia was able to hold off the Bulldogs, taking the next two points to win the set 26-24. Addink had six kills for UMD in the set.
 
Two straight kills from Samantha Paulsen gave UMD an early lead in the second set. Later in the set, Minnesota Duluth went on a 5-1 run to lead 14-12. The Golden Bears responded with a 9-1 run to take control of the set. The Bulldogs fought off four set points, until the Bears ultimately took a two-set lead at 25-20.
 
The third set saw Concordia lead 8-3 early, but three consecutive points from Cianna Selbitschka got UMD back to within one at 11-10. The Bears responded scoring eight of the next nine points lead 19-11. Concordia took the third set 25-17 to win the match in three.
 
Top Performers
Selbitschka led the Bulldogs once again with 11 kills, followed by Addink's 10 kills. Madison Gordon finished with 29 assists and Kaylyn Madison had 17 digs.
 
Up Next
The Bulldogs (14-7, 7-6 NSIC) will be on the road on Wednesday to take on Winona State University. Action is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.