BISMARCK, ND – Playing in the toughest conference in the nation does not make things easy on the University of Mary volleyball team. With every match a battle for the Marauders, today was no different as UMary hosted the Bulldogs of Minnesota Duluth. Despite great effort and energy from the Marauders, UMary was unable to find the winning formula against the nation's #6 team. The Marauders fell in three sets (25-12, 25-14, 25-14).
 
The Marauders showed flashes in each set but it was not enough to take down the consistently tough Bulldogs.
 
The loss moves the Marauders to 3-10 on the season overall and 0-5 in conference play.
 
In the first set, the Marauders came out exchanging point for point with the Bulldogs in the early stages before Minnesota Duluth pulled away to take set one 25-12.
 
The Marauders jumped out to a lead early into the second set and were able to keep it close until the midpoint before the Bulldogs flexed their national powerhouse muscles 25-14.
 
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the third set but that did not break the Marauders spirt. UMary fought early to keep the set close in hopes of extending the match but in the end it was the Bulldogs who pulled away to win the third and final set 25-14.
 
It was difficult for the Marauders to get anything going against the stout defense of the Bulldogs, who recorded eight blocks in the match compared to the Marauders four. The deficit in aces also hurt the Marauders with UMD raking in eight compared to zero by UMary.
 
Katja Berge had five kills and Madison Bergthold six to lead UMary.
 
The Marauders will be back in action on September 21 in Bemidji, MN, against Bemidji State University at 6 pm. UMary returns home to the MAC on September 28 against Upper Iowa University at 6 pm.
 
#marauders#