UMD Earns Share Of NSIC Title With Sweep Of Mary

Nov 10, 2012

Northland Sports Online

For the second time in as many seasons, the University of Minnesota Duluth has earned a share of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title. The Bulldogs made sure of that behind a dominant showing against the University of Mary Saturday afternoon in a 3-0 (25-3, 25-11, 25-19) rout at Romano Gymnasium. Moments later, Concordia University-St. Paul put the finishing touches on a sweep of top-ranked Southwest Minnesota State University, creating a three-way tie for the conference crown between UMD, Concordia and SMSU.

No. 5 UMD wasted no time gaining the upper hand, racing to a 14-0 lead in the opening set, earning 13 successive points off the serve of sophomore libero Julie Rainey. The Marauders scattered three points from there before the Bulldogs took the 1-0 lead on a double block by sophomore right side hitter Maddy Siroin and senior middle blocker Kalli Lochner. UMD had not held an opponent to fewer than seven points in any individual set this fall prior to Saturday. The Bulldogs continued to hold an edge on the scoreboard throughout the entire second set, cruising to a 2-0 lead at the break.

Mary put up a much stronger effort in the decisive third frame, hanging with UMD until the closing portion of the set. Mired in an 18-18 stalemate, the Bulldogs locked down their eighth undefeated season at Romano Gymnasium (15-0) by closing the match on a 7-1 run. UMD had not run the table on its home floor since 2006, when the Bulldogs rolled up a 9-0 record at Romano as members of the now defunct North Central Conference. The last time UMD posted a mark of 15-0 at home came back in 1980 — when the Bulldogs played a 65-game schedule and went 58-7 on the year.

The Bulldogs (27-3 overall and 18-2 in the NSIC) combined to attack at a .370 clip with 39 kills on the afternoon. Junior outside hitter and 2012 NSIC Player of the Year Kate Lange collected a match-high 13 kills to go along with five digs and three total blocks. Mary, which hit -.044 and combined for just 20 kills, finishes the season 3-24 overall with a league mark of 3-17.

Saturday afternoon marked the final home regular season appearances for Lochner and defensive specialist Samantha Hertaus, the team’s co-captains. Lochner hit an even .500 and posted 10 kills and added a pair of blocks. Hertaus, one of five UMD players to appear in each of the team’s 102 sets in 2012.

Next up for the Bulldogs will be the NSIC Tournament, which takes place at the league’s No. 1 seed and runs Friday through Sunday. UMD must play the waiting game to find out which of the three league co-champions will host the tournament.

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