The #11 ranked University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (UMD) volleyball team continued their winning momentum tonight in a clean three set sweep over the University of Sioux Falls Cougars (USF) in another Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) face off.

Set One: UMD (25) - USF (16)

The first set would get off to a troubling start for UMD, giving up a service ace to start the match and struggling to match the early USF points. Things would kick off with a string of 5 consecutive points, highlighted by 3 straight attack errors from the Cougars, to jumpstart the Bulldog offense. Multiple strings of three, four, and five consecutive points throughout the set, as well as seven total attack errors from USF, would help UMD secure a confident nine point win to start off the match.

Set Two: UMD (25) - USF (21)

Despite giving up the first point of the set again, UMD would be able to match the Cougars offense with multiple three and four point strings and a six consecutive point run that included four unique errors from the side of USF. This would give the Bulldogs a 21-13 lead going into the latter half of the set before running into a problem themselves. USF would match the Bulldogs for a few points before putting together a five point string of their own and pushing the score line to 24-21. This momentum would quickly be shut down though with a kill from fifth year senior middle blocker Hope Schjenken, securing the set for UMD.

Set Three: UMD (25) - USF (13)

UMD would come out swinging in the third set, securing the first two points for themselves and securing the lead with a couple of early point runs. At 15-12 in the set, the Bulldogs would create an even larger lead for themselves with a string of seven straight points, highlighted by three kills from senior outside hitter Cianna Selbitschka. Another string of three points, all capped off with a block from junior right side Samantha Paulsen, would secure the set and the match win for UMD.

Top Performers

Cianna Selbitschka led the match with 12 kills, putting her total to 921 career kills in her hunt for 1000. Graduate student setter Madison Gordon ends the night collecting another 20 assists, while senior libero Kaylyn Madison would tie for first in digs with 10 throughout all three sets.

Up Next

The Bulldogs head over to Marshall, Minn. to take on #8 Southwest Minnesota State tomorrow afternoon. The first serve is scheduled for 2 PM.