Mavericks regroup, get ready for Bulldogs

by Josh Berhow
Issue date: 10/11/07
Section: Womens Sports

The No. 13 Mavericks (15-4 overall, 3-1 North Central Conference) will travel to Duluth to play a conference match against the No. 3 Bulldogs and try to get back on track. MSU will attempt to break UMD's current streak of 24 consecutive matches won in conference play. The Bulldogs haven't lost a conference game since October 2005 against Nebraska-Omaha. They've also needed a fifth game only twice this year to beat their opponents.

"We'll keep using our same approach to get ready for every match," said Amanda Beekman. "Just keep practicing with the mentality to get better."

UMD (19-1 overall, 6-0 NCC) has plenty of weapons that the Mavericks have to account for, with three outstanding returnees from the 2006 squad. Leading the team is Vicky Braegelmann, a senior from Albany, Minn., and 2006's American Volleyball Coaches Association DII Co-National Player of the Year.

"They have three studs that returned for them and one of the better left sides around," said Mavericks coach Dennis Amundson.

The Bulldogs have also hauled in 10 NCC Player of the Week honors so far this year, five belonging to junior setter Katie Gangelhoff. Gangelhoff has 955 assists on the year and is averaging 13.64 assists per game, leading the NCC.

"We are going into every game with our heads high, regardless if we win or lose," said Beekman.

"We're going to continue playing hard and manage the rough spots in the match," said Amundson.

Opening serve is set for 7 p.m. in UMD's Romano Gymnasium.

Josh Berhow is a Reporter staff writer