By: Joe Hansen

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Box Score
Official NCAA Central Region Rankings

The University of Minnesota Duluth had no problem sweeping the University of Sioux Falls in straight sets in the opening round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament at Romano Gymnasium on Wednesday night.

UMD (29-2) won 25-14, 25-10, 25-21, coming out strong after an emotional win last time out before looking dominant in the second set. The Cougars challenged the Bulldogs in the third set, but a timeout by head coach Jim Boos trailing 16-18 sparked the Bulldogs, scoring seven of the final 10 points to down USF in straight sets.

The only upset in the NSIC tournament came opposite the Bulldogs, as  No. 18 Wayne State (Neb.) College defeated No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State in straight sets to advance to a semifinal meeting with UMD. The two teams went to five sets with UMD prevailing in their lone meeting this year.

Junior libero Julie Rainey received a golden shovel in a pregame ceremony celebrating her all-time Bulldog record for digs. She added 15 on the night to bring her career mark a to 1,725. Senior defensive specialist Elizabeth Benusa also hit 11 defensive saves. The Bulldogs had three blocks on the night, including a key late solo block by senior outside hitter Kate Lange.

Lange led UMD with 12 kills while also making nine defensive digs and one block. Sophomore middle blocker Monica Turner hit .833 with 10 kills on 12 attacks and no errors. Just missing double figures was junior right-side hitter Maddy Siroin who had nine kills on the night. Sophomore setter Ashley Hinsch had 35 assists as UMD hit .353 while holding the Cougars to an .040 attack percentage.

Also making waves tonight, the Bulldogs moved up in the official NCAA regional rankings following this weekend's action and are now third in the Central region. No. 5 Central Missouri tops the region with No. 3 Concordia St. Paul second and the Bulldogs third. The winner of the NSIC tournament will receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament along with the winners of the MIAA and GAC tournaments with five at-large teams rounding out the region.

The semifinals and finals of the NSIC Tournament will take place at the Ganglehoff Center on the campus of Concordia-St. Paul. The Golden Bears play Northern State in the other semifinal. UMD and Wayne State start the action on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.