UMD Volleyball Falls To #6

Sept 24, 2012

Northland Sports Online

A steady climb up the national rankings has taken a setback — albeit a minor one — as the University of Minnesota Duluth dipped three spots to No. 6 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, released Monday afternoon. The Bulldogs, who dropped their first match of the season last Saturday in Marshall, Minn., had improved their standing in every weekly poll prior to Monday’s release.

UMD (13-1 overall) fell behind after the first set Tuesday at St. Cloud State University, but stormed back to win the ensuing three frames in convincing fashion for a 3-1 (21-25, 25-14, 25-13, 25-13) victory. The Bulldogs then rolled to their ninth sweep of the season over the University of Sioux Falls, overpowering the host Cougars on Friday night at Stewart Center. Saturday’s match went the complete opposite way, as Southwest Minnesota State — which vaulted up to No. 2 — upended UMD 3-0 (28-26, 25-18, 25-13).

UMD returns home this Friday to host a pair of premiere Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matchups. The Bulldogs welcome fourth-ranked and five-time defending national champion Concordia University-St. Paul to Romano Gym on Friday before taking on No. 10 Minnesota State University-Mankato on Saturday.

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