2014 NCAA II Central Region Tournament

The top-seeded, second-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth advanced to its second-straight NCAA II Central Region Championship match, sweeping No. 6 Wayne State (Neb.) College on Friday night at Romano Gym, but the Bulldogs will have a new foe ahead of them as No. 4 Southwest Minnesota State University upset seven-time defending National Champion Concordia University, St. Paul on the other side of the bracket.

UMD (33-1) extended its winning streak to 27 matches with its fourth win of the season over its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rival Wayne State (27-7), and second-straight sweep of the Wildcats, though needed to adjust its defensive game plan when WSC chose to avoid senior libero Julie Rainey.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Senior right-side hitter Maddy Siroin led the Bulldogs with 15 digs, the first time this season that anyone besides Rainey or senior outside hitter Katie Ledwell (six digs, nine kills) would lead UMD in that category. Rainey didn't even finish second, as junior setter Ashley Hinsch had 10 digs to go with 40 assists to secure her ninth double-double of the season, and third-straight in postseason play.
•  Junior middle blocker Monica Turner led  the way, hitting .556 with 11 kills on just 18 swings, while unior outside Mariah Scharf added 10 as the only other Bulldog to crack double digits. Siroin added eight, and sophomore middle blocker Sydnie Mauch seven. The Bulldogs had just five blocks, with Hinsch and Mauch playing a role in four each.
"I think it all stemmed down to our blockers doing what they're supposed to do, taking away the shots which makes it easier for us because they kind of hit towards us," said Siroin, crediting the block for clearing the sightlines for the UMD defense even if it didn't combine for many blocks on the stat sheet. The opening set saw just a pair of tie scores early before UMD ran off eight-straight points to take a 13-4 lead. From there, they just built it up and looked ready to roll in the match with a 25-12 victory, but they only appeared to open the eyes of Wayne State.

"The way we jumped out early and were very efficient, there was an opportunity for that match to really get away, but they just came right back and played the way we expected. They made life very difficult for us," said Boos. "We feel fortunate to advance, and we look forward to the opportunity tomorrow." Game two saw nine tie scores, four lead changes, and was up for grabs with UMD ahead just 19-18, but a pair of kills by Siroin and a service ace by senior outside Aly Kujawa put the Bulldogs up as they eventually held on to take a 2-0 lead at 25-22. The third set once again saw UMD jump up 6-2 but three Bulldog errors and two service aces by Wayne helped the Wildcats bounce back to tie it. UMD ran off four points twice to take a 21-16 lead and traded points the rest of the way before Turner put an exclamation point on her night with the match's final kill.

UP NEXT
UMD will look to knock off Southwest Minnesota State for the fourth time in 2014 and claim the NCAA Central Region Championship for the third time and the first since 2006. The Bulldogs and Mustangs take the court at Romano Gym at 7:00 p.m.