Box Score

Morris, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris volleyball team put together three impressive sets today (Sept. 25) but met up with a St. Scholastica team who was up to the task, and took the match in straight sets 3-0.

Visiting St. Scholastica (13-4, 2-0) took the first set of the afternoon 25-22, scoring four of the final five points for the win. In the second set they used a 5-0 run to open the game on their way to a 25-16 win. Finally, in the third set, the Cougars pushed the Saints to the limit and beyond, but eventually fell 29-27, ending the match.

Minnesota, Morris (7-9, 1-1) played great in spurts on the afternoon, but struggled with consistency against powerful CSS. The Cougars gave themselves a chance to win on each set before the Saints would pull away late.

Already down 2-0 in a back and forth third set, the Saints worked their way out to a 7-3 lead, but undaunted the Cougars battled all the way back and held a 20-20 tie late in the match. Coming out of a timeout, the Cougars struck first on a Jordan Olerud (Redwood Falls, Minn.) kill to take the lead at 21-20.  The momentum was stalled however, as one play later a serve in the net gave the ball right back to the Saints, tied again at 21-21.

Down 24-22 in the third set, Saints battled back for two straight points before the Cougars could close it out. The two teams would then trade blows back and forth, past the 25-points mark, with each taking their turn at the lead. The Cougars last lead came at 26-25, and the last tie came with the match knotted up at 27. From there, the Saints Anna Zyvoloski closed out the win for her team with back-to-back kills.

Minnesota, Morris held leads in both the first and third sets, and the score was tied 24 total times on the night. Zyvoloski and teammate Paige Hardy led the match with 17 kills apiece, while Olerud paced the Cougars with 16 and a .324 hitting percentage. Kaylie Clark (Garden Plains, Kans.) was the final player in double figures with 10 on the afternoon.

Minnesota, Morris finished with 48 kills in the match, to 44 for St. Scholastica. The Cougars also led the match with 61 digs against only 54 for the Saints. Olerud and Brita Humphrey (Minnetonka, Minn.) each led UMM with 14 digs while Clark finished with a double-double at 11.

Now .500 in conference play at 1-1, the Cougars head out on the road next weekend, taking on Northwestern and Crown on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 respectively as they continue UMAC play. They will also squeeze in a nonconference match with Waldorf (Iowa) on Sept. 30.