Box Score - 1
Box Score - 2

Morris, Minn. – The University of Minnesota volleyball team split this evening (Sept. 24), hosting a tri-match with Northland and Concordia. Minnesota, Morris topped Northland 3-0 to start the night, and closed with a hard fought 3-1 loss to 23rd ranked Concordia.

The Cougars began their day with an impressive three-set win, opening conference play in fine fashion. Minnesota, Morris (7-8, 1-0) had to work overtime in the opening set, as visiting Northland (4-14, 0-1) pushed the Cougars all the way to a 32-30 final.

As the score cruised past 25, the LumberJills took the advantage on three occasions, before the Cougars scored three straight points to close it out. There was far less drama in the final two sets as UMM won by scores of 25-16 and 25-17.

After a .188 hitting performance in the marathon first set, the Cougars settled down to hit .367 and .216 in the second and third set respectively. Megan Theis (Shakopee, Minn.) and Steph Schmieising (Melrose, Minn.) each hit over .400 in the match, leading UMM to a .243 hitting percentage as a team. Theis knocked down a match high 10 kills, her seventh match in double digits this season, while Schmieising finished right behind with nine.

One of the best hitting teams in the UMAC, the Cougars had four players swing better than .300 in the tri-match-opener as Natalie Thomas (Champlin, Minn.) and Kelsey Heisler (Bemidji, Minn.) joined Theis and Schmieising on the leader board.

In her most extensive action of the season, Heisler finished with five kills against just two errors on nine attacks, as well as a block assist in playing all three matches.

Thomas finished with 37 assists against Northland - on the way to 75 on the night – marking the fifth and sixth times she has went over 30 on the season.

Moving on in the night, Thomas and the Cougars saw the strength of the No.23 Cobbers, right away, as Concordia (10-3) took the first set 25-10. The Cobbers hit .382 in the opening frame, making just two errors in the win.

The tides turned in the second set, as the Cougars played maybe their best set of the season, earning the win 25-23. Minnesota, Morris rolled to a 7-1 lead off the start before a bloop Cobber kill ended the opening rally.

The Cougars hit .256 in the set, while holding the Cobbers to just .103. UMM never trailed in the set, although Concordia drew to within one at 21-20, 23-22 and 24-23 before the Cougs closed it out. The final point came on a Clark kill, one of four she had in the set.

Schmieising continued her impressive play, leading the Cougars with 12 kills, which put her over the 20-mark on the night. Allie Humphrey (Minnetonka, Minn.) and Kaylie Clark (Garden Plains, Kans.) were each next with eight kills, with Humphrey finishing without an error on 20 attacks and holding a .400 hitting percentage.

Jordan Olerud (Redwood Falls, Minn.) had seven kills in the match, and 15 on the night, as well as a game high 22 digs against the Cobbers.

Minnesota, Morris returns to UMAC action tomorrow afternoon, for a matinee with St. Scholastica.  The Cougars and Saints square off at 1:00 p.m. back at Jim Gremmels Court. St. Scholastica also opened league play with a win tonight, beating Presentation in three sets.