For the 29th time in the last 30 seasons, the University of Minnesota Duluth volleyball team will finish the regular season with a winning record. 

The Bulldogs fell behind in the first and the third sets but rallied to force a pivotal winner-take-all fifth set. A collective effort helped UMD seize the victory over Minnesota State University, Mankato Saturday afternoon at the Taylor Center in Mankato, Minn.

The Bulldogs, who finished 7-5 on the road this season, played the role of spoiler on MSU's Senior Day and avenged their home loss from Minnesota State earlier, wrangling the Mavericks 22-25, 25-21, 12-25, 25-23, 15-12 on their home floor.

It took everything for the Bulldogs to put themselves into the fifth set. UMD had to earn every point in the match as it never led by more than four points in any set this afternoon. Minnesota State nabbed the opening set after coming back from a 19-16 deficit. The Bulldogs fought back in the tightest set of the match. The second set featured 13 ties and 6 different lead changes before the maroon-and-gold closed out the set late. 

UMD fell behind 2-1 after a forget-that-happened third set. Shades of last night crept in as it appeared the club would fall in four again.

The tenacious Bulldogs would do anything but.

They overcame an 11-7 Maverick lead and a 15-11 deficit in the fourth set and needed to sweat it out in the late stages. At 21-all, senior right side hitter Samantha Paulsen and redshirt-sophomore outside hitter Mary Satori buried back-to-back kills for some breathing room.

The most decisive point was at 24-23. Graduate outside hitter Cianna Selbitschka ripped a ball past the block and the back row defenders out-of-bounds. Head Coach Jim Boos challenged for a touch on the call and won the challenge with a deflection. Minnesota State returned the favor with a challenge of its own but the call stood as called, giving UMD the point and the set.

Coming into the final road stale 3-2 in five-set matches, UMD popped out to a quick 4-1 advantage. The Mavericks made the lead disappear at 7-7. Paulsen gave UMD the lead again, slamming home one of her 16 kills. Then it was the block that helped expand the lead. The Bulldogs blocked three straight Maverick attacks for points. Junior middle blocker Kylie Broten and Satori denied the first one. Satori went right back at it with a solo rejection all alone on the line. Paulsen and Broten capped off the block-a-thon on the other side to position UMD with an 11-7 edge. The graduate from North Branch, Minn., put the cherry on top as Selbitschka netted the final kill -- her team-leading 19th kill and fifth of the set --  to deliver the final blow on the come back.

MSU's Avery Klein also had 19 kills as the Mavericks out hit the Bulldogs .247-.187. The Mavericks also won the digging battle (102-96) and the blocking battle (16.0-11.0). However, the heart and the fight of the Bulldogs was enough to keep UMD in contention for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference postseason tournament.

Paulsen ended the day with 16 kills and five blocks. Her five blocks was one shy of equaling her season best. Sophomore right side hitter Madeline Guetzkow posted her ninth double-digit effort of the year with 11 kills, and also chipped in three blocks. Senior setter Maddi Kealy dished out 31 assists, matching her career high set back on Oct. 26 against Northern State University. The 31 assists were the most by a Bulldog in a five-set contest this season. 

Freshman setter Ava Jones amassed 25 assists and had a pair of aces, which led the Bulldogs. Jones also compiled her second career double-double, adding on 11 digs. Satori registered 13 digs, which was a collegiate best for the Manitowoc, Wis., native. Selbitschka tallied her team-leading ninth double-double of the 2024 campaign with 19 kills and 11 digs. Graduate libero Kaylyn Madison scooped up 26 digs, a team high. 

UMD (15-10, 8-9 NSIC) honors its seniors at Romano Gymnasium on Saturday, Nov. 16 for its final match of the season hosting Winona State University. Senior Day festivities and first serve will begin at 4:00 p.m.