#3 UMD Volleyball Sweeps #8 SMSU Mustangs in Home Opener
The #3 ranked UMD Bulldogs volleyball team opened it’s home season with a 3-0 sweep of Southwest Minnesota State University, in a tight match throughout, 25-22, 25-23, and 25-21.
In the first set, UMD fell behind 9-5 before going on a couple mini-runs to eventually lead 13-12. The lead went back and forth, with SMSU leading 20-18. A UMD timeout helped tie the set at 20-20, then UMD scored 5 of the next 7 points after an SMSU timeout to take the first set.
A drama filled second set saw UMD down 16-10 and later 20-14, when the UMD defense erupted to help the ‘Dogs go on a 6 point run at 20-20, with Ashley Hinsch and Sydnie Mauch picking up a solo block each and assisting on TWO more blocks together in the huge comeback run. The Mustangs led 21-20 and 22-21, before UMD took 4 of the last 5 points in the second set to finish it 25-23.
The third set was just as back-and-forth as the first two, with SMSU going on 3 and 4 point runs, and UMD making 3 runs of 3 points and a big run of 5. The UMD defense again came up big, with Katie Ledwell saving a ball that had nearly gone over the scorers table and gaining huge crowd reaction to help carried the ‘Dogs to the end. UMD was credited with a 3-way block on the final point, with Hinsch, Mauch, and Mariah Scharf causing the SMSU hitting error.
In all, UMD picked up 6 solo stuff blocks, and 11 block assists, with Mauch and Maddy Siroin each getting two solos, while Hinsch and Monican Turner each had one. Mauch assisted on 4 other blocks, Hinsch 3, Ledwell, Scharf, and Allison Olley each had block assists.
Scharf led UMD in kills with 12, Siroin 9, Turner 8, and Ledwell 7 to lead UMD, and Hinsch had 35 set-assists on the night. Julie Rainey scored 18 digs and Ledwell had 12, including the save over the scorers table.
UMD prohibits the sale of photo prints of athletes, but you can view all UMD Volleyball photos in this album