DULUTH, Minn. – The seventh-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth volleyball team returns to Romano Gymnasium this weekend for its first home Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) matches of the season as Northern State University (S.D.) comes to town on Friday and Minnesota State University Moorhead on Saturday.
MATCH SCHEDULE
Friday
6 p.m. vs. Northern State
Saturday
2 p.m. vs. MSU Moorhead
Watch: www.umdbulldogs.com/watch
Live Stats: https://umdbulldogs.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
Promo Information
Friday vs. Northern State
UMD Student Appreciation Night
Saturday vs. MSU Moorhead
Parent's Day / Post-Match Autographs
Purchase Tickets
About the Bulldogs
AVCA Ranking: 7
Record: 9-1, 2-0 NSIC
For the third consecutive week, UMD sits seventh on the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II poll.
The Bulldogs are coming off back-to-back sweeps of the University of Mary (N.D.) and Minot State University (N.D.) last weekend to open conference action.
Senior defensive specialist
Kaylyn Madison was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts.
Madison averaged 6.00 digs per set and was part of a defensive effort that limited both Mary and Minot State to a combined .087 hitting percentage for the weekend.
Minnesota Duluth had a NSIC-best this season .488 hitting percentage against Mary on Saturday.
The Bulldogs rank ninth in NCAA Division II, averaging 14.33 kills per set.
Samantha Paulsen had 13 kills and zero attack errors for the Bulldogs in that match.
Cianna Selbitschka recorded a team-high 16 kills on a career-best .667 hitting percentage against Mary.
Madison Gordon averaged 13.0 assists per set over the weekend with 41 assists vs. Mary.
Gordon is one of only three NSIC players this season to record at least 40 assists in a three-set match this year.
Gordon, who ranks seventh in the country averaging 11.30 assists per set, also went over 2,700 career assists against Minot State.
Scouting Northern State
AVCA Ranking: NR
Record: 9-1, 2-0 NSIC
After dropping the season opener, the Wolves have run off nine straight wins, including six by three-match sweeps.
Northern State opened NSIC play last weekend with wins over the University of Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State University.
The Wolves lead the NSIC and rank seventh nationally, limiting opponents to a .096 hitting percentage.
NSU leads the conference and rank 11
th in country, averaging 18.64 digs per set.
Abby Meister ranks third in NCAA Division II, averaging 6.25 digs per set.
Keri Walker ranks 20
th in the country, averaging 10.44 assists per set.
Morissen Samuels leads the team, averaging 3.17 kills per set.
Abby Brooks ranks fourth in the NSIC, averaging 1.08 blocks per set.
Previous Meeting: (All-Time Series: UMD leads 54-6)
Northern State swept the Bulldogs in Aberdeen last season … It marked the third time UMD was swept by the Wolves in Aberdeen since 2015 … UMD swept Northern State at Romano Gymnasium earlier last season.
Scouting MSU Moorhead
AVCA Ranking: NR
Record: 4-6, 1-1 NSIC
The Dragons snapped a three-match losing skid on Saturday with a sweep over Minnesota Crookston.
Maci Martini led the team with nine kills in the victory over the Golden Eagles.
Bridget Witzmann leads the team this season 120 kills, averaging 3.08 kills/set and ranks fourth in the NSIC with 18 service aces.
Raiah Mandell leads the Dragons with 19 total blocks.
MSU Moorhead has had three straight matches of over .200 hitting percentage entering the weekend, after hitting that number just twice in the first seven matches.
Previous Meeting: (All-Time Series: UMD leads 66-13)
The Bulldogs swept the Dragons in both matches last season with Selbitschka leading UMD in kills in each match … The Bulldogs have won the last four matches by sweeps over Moorhead.
