The 16th-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth uncorked the 2024 season with a couple of wins by toppling Missouri Southern State University and Texas A&M University-Kingsville in the Javelina Volleyball Classic in Kingsville, Texas on Friday. The Bulldogs wrangled in the Lions in four sets and needed five sets to defeat the Javelinas to begin the 2024 campaign 2-0.

Friday marked just the second time ever UMD and MSSU faced off, and it was the first-ever meeting with TAMUK. The Bulldogs, who defeated the Lions in four sets back on Sept. 11, 1992, moved to 2-0 lifetime versus Missouri Southern.

While it was the first of many including the introduction of the 2024 Bulldogs, it was also the debuts for many members of the maroon and gold. Graduate middle blocker Ellie Dammann made her first appearance as a Bulldog since joining from the University of St. Thomas. True freshman setter Ava Jones also got propelled into the lineup.

MSSU grabbed the first set of the season but UMD responded taking the next three sets to preserve its string of opening day success. The Bulldogs, dating back to 2006, are 34-2 (.944) on opening day. The second victory Friday was as wild as it gets.

UMD hit a blazing .355 during the night cap and managed to come back down two sets to one to upset the host Javelinas on their home floor. The Bulldogs managed to pick up their first five-set victory after losing all four of their tries from a season ago. 

The Bulldogs notched 70 kills led by senior right side hitter Samantha Paulsen, who posted a match-high 16 kills. Paulsen tallied a .640 hitting percentage on the floor on 25 swings and played error free volleyball on the attacking side. The Chisago Lakes, Minn., native was one of four UMD attackers to post double digit kills. Sophomore right side hitter Madeline Guetzkow made her presence known, totaled a career high 12 kills. Senior outside hitter Payton Addink had 11 kills and graduate outside hitter Cianna Selbitschka had 10 kills to round out the Bulldog attackers. Senior setter Maddi Kealy and Jones each took turns in the rotation setting open looks all night. Kealy dished out a match-high 28 assists while Jones was one assist shy of matching her teammate.

UMD led by two early in the first set before exploding to run away with a 25-13 first-set win. The Bulldogs ended the set on a 13-3 run which erupted in the set for 14 kills and hit .393 while holding the Javelinas to a -.056 hitting clip.

Texas A&M-Kingsville responded the following frame which saw the lead change four different times and no team leading by more than three until late. The Javelinas broke out to a 24-20 lead and needed three set points to finally claim the second. A potential pivotal third set turned sour late as the Bulldogs led from the opening serve all the way until 19-19. TAMUK grabbed the lead and needed five set points to eventually take a 2-1 lead in the match. From there, both offenses were in rhythm and firing on all cylinders. Both teams combined for 47 kills and only 12 errors in the final two frames. It was the Bulldog offense that turned the tide.

A 11-4 start jump started the comeback. Guetzkow thumped home three kills to begin the fourth to provide the cushion. TAMUK closed the gap to 15-10, however, sophomore middle blocker Kylie Broten found her own rhythm and mashed home three kills on the back half of the set including back-to-back bombs to force a decisive fifth. The balanced attack continued with a 8-3 lead to begin the fifth on the back of Addink this time, who found pay dirt three times splitting the Javelina block. The gap closed to 14-13 but Broten and Guetzkow slammed the door shut with a double block to seal the victory.

The Bulldogs wrap up tournament action with a double dip against Westminster University (Utah) and Southern Nazarene University tomorrow. First serve of match one begins at 1 p.m. against the Griffins and the final contest with the Crimson Storm is slated to start at 5 p.m.