UMD sophomore Sarah Kelly drives one of her 15 kills through two Concordia blockers, before 1,614 fans at Romano Gym. Photo credit: John Gilbert

The pressure is on the UMD women’s volleyball team this weekend, when the Bulldogs close the regular season with matches at Upper Iowa Friday and at Winona State Saturday. The Bulldogs retained their No. 2 rank in the country last weekend, despite losing an intensely fought and highly entertaining five-set match to No. 1   Concordia of St. Paul, by coming back to beat MSU-Mankato in four sets on Saturday.

   Winning this weekend means maintaining their status, and still holding hope to be host of next week’s Northern Sun playoff first round, and possibly the league semifinals and finals.

   Right now, Concordia looks like the favorite for that honor, because after falling to UMD in St. Paul in a five-set classic, the Golden Bears came to Romano Gym and returned the favor by winning 23-25, 25-16, 25-20, 19-25, 15-8.

   The difference was very slim. In analysis, we could say that UMD is very skilled and flows well in its teamwork offensively and defensively; Concordia is very skilled, flows well offensively and defensively – and is extremely consistent. UMD can play with any team when at its peak; Concordia is the prototype for always playing at a consisent peak.

Allison Olley tried to finesse a shot past Concordia defenders. Photo credit: John Gilbert

   “They limited their errors,” said UMD coach Jim Boos. “If we limit our errors, we have a chance to win the match. And while you can get by sometimes with errors against other teams, against Concordia, there are no undeserved points.”

   Ranked No. 1 for much of the season, and now No. 2 to Concordia’s No. 1, UMD makes far fewer mistakes than most everyone else. But Boos is a stern taskmaster, constantly provoking more perfection. The team’s potential for this year’s playoffs is unlimited. But there are six potent teams atop the NSIC, with Concordia, UMD, No. 6 Winona State, No. 7 Augustana, and No. 8 Wayne State, and the rest aren’t far behind.

   “With so many good teams, only four of us will get home court for the playoffs,” said Boos. “That means it could come down to us playing Winona for the fifth seed, and wind up on the road.”

UMD's Taylor Wissbroecker blocks an attempt by Concordia's Anna Schlock (14). Photo credit: John Gilbert

   There are no sure things in sports, but if there were, we would project the University of Minnesota-Duluth to be the top team in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in volleyball, and possibly No. 1 among the nation’s Division II teams.

   Because, after all, the Bulldogs have been led all season by sophomores Sarah Kelly, Makenzie Morgen and Erin Schindler, and freshman Emily Torve.

   Kelly, who is from Chaska, has emerged as UMD’s top kill sniper, while Morgen, who is from Appleton, Wis., has been a strong contender for that title. That takes nothing away from the experience of seniors Taylor Wissbroecker, who is a strong third in kills behind Kelly and Morgen, and well-established middle hitter Sydnie Mauch, who stands fifth in kills, but it indicates the Bulldogs will have considerable firepower back next fall.

Freshman UMD setter Emily Torve blicked a Concordia shot in the showdown between No. 1 and 2. Photo credit: John Gilbert

   Schindler, who is from Chaska, where she was Kelly’s teammate, plays libero, and routinely leads the team in digs – those back-row blocks that return the ball in set-able attitude for the front row. And that means to Torve, the freshman setter from Loretto, who attended Heritage Christian Academy. Torve has improved dramatically as the season has progressed, and has well over half of the team-total set assists on the team. Further evidence that the Bulldogs will be a potent foe next season. Junior middle blocker Allison Olley also will return as a solid factor.

UMD's Makenzie Morgen hammered one of her team-best 18 kills against MSU-Mankato Saturday, as UMD rose to 23-3 overall. Photo credit: John Gilbert

   After the loss to Concordia, UMD had to come back against a strong Mankato team, and after winning the first two sets, UMD fell 25-23, and had to work feverishly to prevail 25-22 in the fourth to take a 3-1 victory. “We were down most of the way in that last set, and I really liked our grit and feistiness to come back and win it,” said Boos.

   The kind of statistics Boos watches closely, against Concordia the Bulldogs hit .517 in the fourth game and .314 in the first – the two they won. In the three they lost, the Bulldogs hit for percentages of .064, .087, and .080. Against Mankato, UMD stormed out to hit .727 in the first set (to Mankato’s .045), .208 (to Mankato’s .000), .216 (to Mankato’s .342, in the set Mankato won), and .306 (to Mankato’s .209).

   We have witnessed the Bulldogs at their best, and they are away this weekend, working on finding and maintaining their season peak of consistency – just in time for the playoffs.