By: Joe Hansen

Tournament Website



NSIC VB Minnesota Duluth vs Wayne State - Images by Justin Oakman


St. Paul, Minn, (Gangelhoff Center) - Senior outside hitter Kate Lange reached another milestone as the University of Minnesota Duluth swept No. 18 Wayne State College Saturday in the NSIC / U.S. Bank Tournament semifinals in St. Paul, Minn.

Lange had 18 kills in the match, surpassing 2,000 for her illustrious career and helping the No. 2 Bulldogs (30-2) advance to the NSIC Championship game Sunday in St. Paul. Wayne State (22-10) gave UMD one of its toughest fights in the regular season, but the Bulldogs looked dominant early in the postseason rematch. UMD did not trail in taking the first two sets by matching 25-18 finals, but had to battle back in the third, down by as many as four points before tying the match at 19-all. The Bulldogs scored four of five points and then stopped a two-point rally by Wayne State to clinch the final game 25-23.

UMD hit .374 through the first two sets, looking as strong offensively as they have all season. Freshman Sydnie Mauch added 12 kills with just one error to hit .579 for the match. Sophomore setter Ashley Hinsch had 49 of UMD's 54 assists.

On the defensive end, Lange and junior outside hitter Katie Ledwell each added double-digit digs at 17 and 10, respectively, with NSIC Libero of the Year Julie Rainey leading the Bulldogs with 23 on the night. UMD had six blocks as a team, including a pair of solo blocks for Monica Turner and another by Hinsch.

The Bulldogs await the winner of this afternoon's second semifinal between No. 22 Northern State and No. 3 Concordia-St. Paul. Opening serve of the NSIC Championship is set for 2:00 p.m