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Box Score

Morris, Minn. – The University of Minnesota, Morris volleyball team won for the fourth straight time today (Oct. 23) with a 3-0 win over visiting Crown.

Hosting their annual “Dig Pink” match, in conjunction with the AVCA and the Side-Out Foundation to raise awareness for Breast Cancer awareness, the Cougars donned pink jerseys and used pink balls on their way to the sweep by scores of 25-23, 25-19 and 25-16.

Minnesota, Morris has now won nine of their last 10, including a pair of intense emotional victories last night. After besting Northwestern for the first time since 2004 last night, the Cougars were a little slower than usual out of the gate today and allowed Crown to hang around in the opening set.

Late in the set, the Cougars found themselves looking up at the Storm, trailing by one at 23-22. A Crown error tied the match and gave the ball back to the Cougars, who closed out the win for the early 1-0 lead. It was a sign of relief after the win, as the set was tied 17 different times and featured nine separate lead changes.

The Cougars didn't leave much more breathing room in the second set, despite their four-point run at the start. Another back and forth match saw eight more ties, including at 18-18 tie after a Alycia Heisler (Detroit Lake, Minn.) attack error. Errors plagued the Cougars all match, but especially in the second set where they committed a match-high nine and hit just .140.

A regrouped set of Cougars came back after the error and scored seven of the next eight to take set two.

The momentum from the end of the second set carried over into the start of the third as the Cougars quickly ran out to a 10-1 lead. Out in front, Minnesota, Morris never looked back and closed the match on a six-point run for their most impressive set. 

Megan Theis (Shakopee, Minn.) and Allie Humphrey (Minnetonka, Minn.) led the offense with eight and six kills respectively, with Humphrey hitting an impressive .455, making just one error on the day.

Eighteen different players saw the court for the Cougars with 12 recording a kill. Minnesota, Morris finished with 36 kills in the match while holding Crown to just 23. Natalie Thomas (Champlin, Minn.) racked up 17 set assists in running the offense and Brita Humphrey (Minnetonka, Minn.) led the defense with 13 digs.

At 16-11, coach Braegelmann sets a new personal high for wins at Minnesota, Morris, bettering last year's total of 15. The Cougars also move to 8-3 in conference play, and remain one game out of second place in the hunt for a home play-off spot.