It was a heavyweight fight against two of the nation's top offenses and the action did not disappoint.

Neither did the result.

The No.14 University of Minnesota Duluth prevailed as the victors over the University of Findlay. The Bulldogs dropped a contested first set but responded with taking the following three sets to defeat the Oilers (20-25, 25-23, 25-13, 25-22) Saturday afternoon at the SDC Gym in Houghton Mich. The Oilers (5-2) concluded action dropping two of their last three to all ranked opponents as UMD took all three of its matches in the UP North Tournament and improved its record to 7-0.

The Bulldogs came into the weekend with the fifth best hitting percentage (.352) in all of Division II. Findlay happened to be one of those clubs ahead of UMD. The Bulldogs went toe-to-toe with the third best hitting team and managed to overpower the Oilers to the tune of 60 kills on a .267 hitting clip compared to Findlay's 41 kills on an even .200. The Oilers were the first team this season to hold UMD under the .300 mark this season.

Three of the four sets were decided by five points or less. Every swing, every dig, every point held a colossal weight throughout. In the first, second and fourth frames alone UMD and UF were either tied or traded the lead back and forth on 36 occasions. 

Findlay took the first after taking four consecutive points to break a 17-all tie. Both clubs were blasting away, hitting above the .400-mark for most of the set before both sides clamped down. UMD was outhit in the set despite having more kills. The Oilers did their part by forcing less errors to put the Bulldogs down 1-0 for the second time all season.

Graduate outside hitter Cianna Selbitschka and the Bulldogs jumped out to a 12-6 lead in the second before Findlay climbed back to within one late in the frame. Selbitschka played a key role in the set as she collected six kills and six digs to help her team tie the match heading to the third.

UMD finally found its footing and blew the doors away in what ended up being the pivotal set of the match. The Bulldogs won the third with ease, winning by a 12-point margin with only nine kills. The Oilers finished the third with their worst set of the young season. Graduate libero Kaylyn Madison served the Bulldogs to a 12-3 lead early. Later, graduate middle blocker Ellie Dammann carried a 4-0 run of her own from the service line. Findlay ended up hitting a season-low -.032 from the floor with only seven kills while the Bulldogs overwhelmed their offense into eight hitting errors.

Once again each side traded blows in the last set. The four-headed attack led by Selbitschka, sophomore middle blocker Kylie Broten, sophomore middle blocker Madeline Guetzkow and senior outside hitter Payton Addink propelled UMD out to a 22-17 lead after neither side held a two-point advantage through the first 31 points. Guetzkow put the Bulldogs on the doorstep of sealing the match with her 13th kill of the match. Four match point attempts later, the Oilers dried up and served the court long to end the match. 

For the match, Guetzkow and Selbitschka led all players with 13 kills as UMD had four attackers thump home double-digit kills. Selbitschka notched her third double-double of the season and second in as many outings. She collected a personal best 21 digs to go along with her 13 kills. Madison had a match-high 23 digs as she posted 20-plus digs for the second straight contest. Senior setter Maddi Kealy and freshman setter Ava Jones tallied 57 of the club's 60 assists with Kealy dishing out a team-high 28. Guetzkow was in on four of the team's 10 blocks including a solo rejection on the outside in the first.

The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday, Sept. 19 for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener. UMD takes on Winona State University (5-3) at the McCown Gymnasium in Winona, Minn. First serve against the Warriors is slated to begin at 6:00 p.m.