Not only has the UMD volleyball team gone undefeated in five home matches this fall, but it also hasn’t dropped a set in the process. The No. 2 Bulldogs (15-1, 6-1 NSIC) beat Upper Iowa Friday and Winona State Saturday, both in straight sets, to bump their sweep total this season to 11 and their winning streak at Romano Gym to 20, a number which dates back to November of 2011.
Senior outside hitter Kate Lange piled up 27 kills on the weekend, moving her into third place on UMD’s all-time list with 1,707. Lange was also active on defense in Friday’s win over Upper Iowa (25-17, 25-22, 25-19), collecting 12 digs to tie junior outside hitter Katie Ledwell for second on the team. Junior libero Julie Rainey led the Bulldogs with 16.
Rainey racked up 26 more digs in UMD’s victory over Winona State (25-15, 25-13, 25-21) Saturday. Sophomore setter Ashley Hinsch doled out 40 assists against the Wildcats after a 44-assist performance Friday. The Bulldogs controlled the second set wire to wire Saturday, but had to pull away late in the third after the Wildcats erased a four-point deficit to forge an 18-18 tie.
UMD is undefeated in eight lifetime matches against Upper Iowa and has lost only once in 70 lifetime matches against Winona State.
The Bulldogs will take a break from NSIC competition Tuesday with a match against non-conference Northern Michigan at Romano Gym.
BY KYLE FARRIS