SAINT PAUL, Minn. - The #1 Golden Bears (23-4, 17-0 NSIC) used 49 digs and ten blocks as they were able to control #2 Minnesota Duluth (23-4, 14-2 NSIC) in a 3-0 sweep, 25-15, 25-20, 25-18. Cassie Haag had eight blocks including four solo and Taylor Fieldsted had 13 digs as CU held UMD to .104 hitting on the night. The win extended CU's home match winning streak to 47.
The Golden Bears offense was impressive as well as they hit .301 on the night which is above their season average of .294. Kayla Koenecke had 11 kills with just one error on the night. Haag and Megan Carlson each had nine and Emily Palkert added eight. Amanda Konetchy had another double double with 38 assists and 11 digs.
CU hit .407 in the first set as they controlled the Bulldogs offense holding them to .000 hitting. The Golden Bears used four blocks, three from Cassie Haag to hold down the UMD hitters. Haag, Carlson and Palkert each had three kills in the first set. Konetchy had 12 assists and four digs to help out the CU defense. CU won set one 25-15.
The Golden Bears jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the second set to force an early UMD timeout. UMD rallied back and where within two at 12-10. The Bulldogs came all the way back and had a 19-18 lead late in the set. A kill by Carlson and back to back solo blocks by Haag gave CU a 21-19 lead which they never looked back from and won set two 25-20.
Set three saw UMD jump out early as their offense found a way to beat the Golden Bears defense early in the set. The Bulldogs had their biggest led of the night at 9-6 early in the set. CU quickly tied the set at nine all and took the lead at 11-10. UMD took the lead back at 13-12 and held the lead until CU took it back 16-15. From that point on CU scored nine of the next 12 to win set three 25-18.
The Golden Bears are on the road this Saturday at St. Cloud State. The match will begin at 5:30 p.m., if CU wins they will clinch at least a share of the NSIC title and making it the eighth straight title for CU.
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