The University of Minnesota Duluth volleyball closed out their season this afternoon following a hard fought 0-3 loss against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) rival Wayne State College (NE) Wildcats in the opening round of the  NCAA Division II Central Region tournament.

Set One: UMD (20) - WSC (25)

UMD started off the day strong, earning the first point of the match with a kill from Cianna Selbitschka. The two teams very strongly matched each other's offensive momentum, trading points back and forth and staying tied towards the middle of the match at 11-11. The Wildcats were able to put together five consecutive points, but were very quickly matched by the Bulldogs who earned five of the next six points to get back within one. The two teams would yet again test each other, consistently trading points with each other allowing the Bulldogs to go 4-5 with WSC over the next nine points. A three point string from the Wildcats would close out the first set at 20-25

Set Two: UMD (15) - WSC (25)

The Bulldogs pushed out to a 4-3 lead to start off the second with two attack errors by WSC from blocks by Samantha Paulsen, Grace Daak, and Hope Schjenken. WSC would collect 12 of the next 15 points to jump into a 6-15 lead. The nine point lead for the Wildcats would prove to be too much for UMD to overcome as the two teams would continue to trade points throughout the rest of the set.

"[Wayne St.] are very just error free in the way they play and because of that it just makes it that much harder." - Head Coach Jim Boos

Set Three: UMD (21) - WSC (25)

After securing the first two points of the third set, the Bulldogs found themselves just down by one at 6-7. UMD would go on to collect the next four points straight with the help of a Hope Schjenken service ace. The Wildcats would respond with three of their own but UMD would hold onto a two point lead at 14-12. WSC would proceed to string together the next seven consecutive, three of them off of UMD attack errors. Despite UMD earning seven of the next 13 points, the lead the WSC would yet again prove to be too much and things would end.

Top Performers

Senior outside hitter Cianna Selbitschka led the Bulldog pack in kills today, tallying a team high 13 while also collecting two blocks and nine digs. Graduate student setter Madison Gordon tied for a match high 35 assists today and earned 14 digs, while fifth year middle blocker Hope Schjenken and junior defensive specialist Kiley Nihart knocked in two service aces each.

Season In Review

The Bulldogs capped off their season with an overall record of 18-11 and a conference record of 10-8. UMD started off their postseason with an important 3-1 win versus the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs in the opening round of the NSIC tournament to propel them towards their seventh NCAA regional appearance in the last 10 seasons. 

"We did have some ups and downs this year, but I'm proud of all the girls and how well they did and just grinded through our season to get into this place and give ourselves this opportunity." - Madison Gordon

The program bids farewell to the graduating Madison Gordon, Hope Schjenken, and Grace Daak, but looks forward to welcoming new Bulldogs ahead of the 2024 season.