Volleyball - News

NO. 9 VIKINGS WIN 3-1, SPOIL NO. 12 BULLDOGS TITLE HOPES

Saturday, September 13, 2008

It is not often the No. 12-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth volleyball team loses a match on their home floor, but Saturday night, No. 9 Western Washington University made it look easy, as they defeated the Bulldogs 3-1 (21-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-20) in front of 478 fans at Romano Gymnasium.

The UMD loss, which represented the championship match of the 3rd annual Kraus Anderson Volleyball Classic, was just the first in the UMD Classic for the Bulldogs (9-3) over the past two years.

Western Washington (8-0), who made it to the NCAA II championship match a year ago, now has won 28 of their last 29 matches dating back to last year, as the Vikings spoiled the Bulldogs chances at a title repeat.

UMD won the first set in convincing fashion 25-21; however, came up short on the last three sets, where the Bulldogs made a handful of errors, allowing Western Washington to end the match on a 14-5 run.

Junior middle blocker Sarah Wyffels added to her impressive weekend resume by leading the UMD attack, as she pounded home 16 kills and an impressive .429 hit percentage in the Bulldog loss.

Senior middle blocker Lindsey Clairmont drilled 13 kills and three block assists for UMD, while freshman Hannah Johnson added ten kills and ten digs to go along with her .316 hit percentage.

Junior defensive specialist Rachel Jacobson dug a game-high 25 balls, as senior setter Katie Gangelhoff tallied 50 set assists on the evening.

As a team, UMD killed 59 balls, posted 64 digs and recorded a .248 hitting percentage in the championship loss to the Vikings.

For their stellar weekend efforts, two Bulldogs, in Gangelhoff and Wyffels, were named to the Kraus Anderson Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team.

Wyffels, who led UMD in kills every match this weekend, tallied a total of 56 over the two-day tournament along with a .443 hitting percentage, earning her, to no one's surprise, Most Valuable Player honors.

UMD will next open up Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this upcoming Friday, Sept. 19, as they are set to travel out west to take on the University of Minnesota Crookston, followed by a clash with the Dragons of Minnesota State Moorhead on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Return to all news.