Box Score DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team fell short Friday night against the No. 9-ranked Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in four sets, 22-25, 25-11, 25-16, and 25-18 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play in Duluth, Minn.
The Dragons are now 15-12 on the year, 8-11 in conference play. The Bulldogs are 21-7 and 14-5 in the NSIC.
MSUM was led by sophomore outside hitter
Carly Masloski's 20 kills (.304). Senior middle blocker
Kaitlin VanWinkle added 12 kills, one block and three digs, while senior middle blocker
Abby Wolpern had 11 kills, seven digs and one block for the Dragons. Senior setter
Casie Baer dished out 45 set assists and senior libero
Amber Krenske added 15 digs on the evening. Junior middle blocker
Kelsey Hartkopf and sophomore outside hitter
Claire Grimm each had two blocks.
The Dragons hit .183 on the evening while the Bulldogs hit .393. Another huge factor was play at the net, as UMD was strong with 12 total blocks compared to just three for the Dragons.
MSUM came out on fire and would never trail in the first set as they started on a 4-0 run, capped off on an error by the Bulldogs. The Dragons would take a 7-3 lead on a huge kill from VanWinkle. The Bulldogs would claw back and bring the score to 21-17, but a kill from Hartkopf gave the Dragons a 22-17 lead. A kill from Wolpern brought the set to game point and the Dragons would put the set away on a kill from VanWinkle.
UMD came out strong in set two, taking a 12-6 lead on a Dragon error. The Dragons would then capitalize on a Bulldog error and bring the score to 22-11, but would get no closer as UMD would take the set, 25-11 and tie the game at 1-1.
MSUM would fall in set three, 25-16, but would come out tough in the fourth set on a kill from Masloski bringing the score to 2-2. UMD would score six of the next eight points before a kill from Wolpern would end their run and make the score 9-6. Another monster kill from Masloski would bring the score to 24-17; however, the Dragons would get no closer as the Bulldogs would take the set 25-18, and with that, the game 3-1.
The Dragons are back in action tomorrow afternoon at St. Cloud State in their final match of the regular season. The game is slated to start at 4 p.m.
