ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Golden Bears open a three-match week with a rivalry match TONIGHT at Minnesota Duluth (19-6, 12-3 NSIC). The Golden Bears, ranked #1 in the nation, play the #16 Bulldogs at 7:00 pm this evening. They then have their final homestand of the regular season this weekend with the chance to clinch a 7th consecutive NSIC Championship. CU is 27-0 on the season (16-0 NSIC) with a current 64-match winning streak on the line. WATCH LIVE - LIVE STATS - COMPLETE RELEASE
Tonight's meeting with Minnesota Duluth is the most anticipated matchup of the team's remaining four matches of the regular season. A rivalry has developed over the years between the Golden Bears and Bulldogs, who have battled as the top teams in the region for at least five years. CU trails 10-19 in the series with UMD, but they have a six-match winning streak going that includes a 3-0 thumping earlier this season.
Other matches this week are against Minnesota, Crookston at the Gangelhoff Center on Friday at 7:00 and MSU Moorhead visiting on Saturday at 5:00 pm. The Golden Eagles are 5-22 overall and 2-13 in the NSIC while the Dragons have climbed to sixth place in the NSIC standings with a 19-9 overall record and a mark of 9-6 in the league.
There are a number of milestones within reach for members of the Golden Bear squad. Maggie McNamara (S, Sr., Zumbrota, Minn.) is racing toward the NCAA all-time assists record, just 145 assists away with a current career total of 6,935. She is averaging an NCAA high 13.51 assists per set this year, meaning it would be possible for her to set the new NCAA record by the end of the regular season, if not by the end of the weekend.
Libero Mary Slinger (Sr., Faribault, Minn.) is just 28 digs away from becoming Concordia's all-time digs leader. She will have to overcome Megan Graham's career mark of 2,214, but with 4.92 digs per set this season, Slinger should be able to accomplish the feat at the Gangelhoff Center this weekend, or possibly at Duluth tonight.
Finally, senior Sadie Kessler (St. Michael, Minn.), a rightside hitter, is a mere 20 kills away from reaching the 1,000 career kill mark. She has made her senior season the best of her career, averaging 3.20 kills per set with a .374 hitting average.
The team is two games ahead of second place Minnesota State in the NSIC standings. With the teams up on tap for the remainder of the regular season, the Golden Bears should have no trouble sealing the title. They are assured no less than a tie for the 2009 title with two more wins, or can take fate into their own hands by sweeping all three opponents this week. Minnesota State is 14-2 in the NSIC.
