Make that 12 straight home victories for the University of Minnesota Duluth volleyball team this year. UMD played their first home games in the month of October this past week and continued to roll on their home floor.
The Bulldogs welcomed St. Cloud on Tuesday to the start of a busy homecoming week in the Battle of the Dogs, beating the Huskies in four sets (26-24, 23-25, 25-17, 25-17). Junior outside hitter Kate Lange, senior middle blocker Kalli Lochner and freshman outside hitter Mariah Scharf all led the Bulldogs with 14 kills each.
On Friday night, the Bulldogs beat Upper Iowa behind a team-season-high six serving aces in straight sets (25-15, 25-15, 25-20). Lange marked up her 10th double-double of the year (16 kills, 15 digs).
Then on Saturday, UMD flattened Winona State by sweeping them 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-11). The Bulldogs hit a season-high .430 while limiting the Warriors to .038 hitting percentage. Sophomore libero Julie Rainey posted 22 digs in the win.
The Bulldogs (21-2, 12-2 NSIC) hopped their way back into the top five of the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll again after sliding out last week and will play Minnesota State Moorhead and Northern State this weekend.
BY EVAN SMEGAL smega001@d.umn.edu