The #14 University of Minnesota Duluth volleyball team kicked off their final weekend of regular season play with a sweep over Minnesota State University Moorhead in tonight's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) matchup.

Set One: UMD (25) - MSUM (15)

The Bulldogs would take the momentum to start off the match, securing the first point of set one off an MSUM attack error. The attack errors on the side of Moorhead would prove to be a strong factor in their struggles, tallying eight total errors to UMD's three throughout the set. Four of those errors would be off of blocks from an impressively strong UMD defense, keeping the Dragons to .029 hitting percentage along with the blocks in the first set.

Set Two: UMD (25) - MSUM (18)

A shaky start to the second set for the Bulldogs would set UMD behind 1-4 to get things going. However a nine point streak for the Bulldogs, highlighted by 3 service aces from senior libero Kaylyn Madison, would bring the momentum back into their favor. Despite a few strings of points from the Dragons, the early lead and another four blocks from the Bulldogs defense would keep UMD ahead to end the set.

Set Three: UMD (25) - MSUM (16)

The Bulldogs would give up the first point of the final set but would be able to keep close to MSUM on scoring to start things off. An early string of five would build a comfortable enough lead for UMD to continue to trade points throughout the set with the Dragons. Again the attack errors, three of them off of UMD blocks, would prove to hurt the Dragons and keep them to a .194 hitting percentage to cap off the match.

NSIC Tournament Clinched

With this three set win tonight, accompanied by a loss from the University of Sioux Falls Cougars to the Concordia St. Paul Golden Bears, the Bulldogs have officially clinched a spot in next week's NSIC Tournament. The tournament will kick off with the quarterfinals round on Tuesday, Nov. 14, hosted by each of the matchups highest seeds.

Top Performers

Senior outside hitter and All Conference First Team recipient Cianna Selbitschka topped the kill chart tonight with 16. Graduate student setter Madison Gordon will tally in 30 total assists tonight, more than doubling the next highest player. Kaylyn Madison led the Bulldogs with 10 digs, and senior middle blocker Grace Daak would put together 6.0 blocks.

Up Next

Bulldog volleyball heads to South Dakota tomorrow to take on the Northern State Wolves, finishing off their regular season schedule. The action kicks off at 2:00 PM tomorrow in Aberdeen.