Minnesota Duluth will try to set a school record for wins to start a season when the fourth-ranked Bulldogs host 10th-ranked Wayne State in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference match at 7 p.m. today at Romano Gym.
UMD (14-0 overall, 5-0 NSIC) tied its 2010 and 1983 squads for the best start in team history after sweeping Minnesota State-Mankato last weekend on the road.
The Bulldogs are led by sophomore Kate Lange of Hibbing, who has a team-high 234 kills to go with 159 digs and 14 service aces. Hannah Johnson of Coleraine, who like Lange is a former News Tribune player of the year, is having a resurgent senior season, adding 139 kills. Freshman Julie Rainey leads the team with 263 digs, while senior setter Eleena Iisakka of Esko has a team-high 585 assists.
Wayne (10-4, 3-2) is coming off a 3-2 home loss on Tuesday to Augustana. The Wildcats have a balanced offense, with Tali Fredrickson having a team-high 155 kills and 18 service aces while adding 196 digs. Fredrickson, a 5-foot-7 senior outside hitter, had a season-high 20 kills when second-ranked Wayne beat top-ranked UMD 3-1 on Oct. 1, 2010, snapping the Bulldogs' record-tying 2010 start.
After Wayne, it won't get any easier as UMD plays Augustana (9-4, 3-2) at 4 p.m. Saturday at Romano Gym.
