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Morris, Minn. – The Minnesota Morris volleyball team played about as close as they could with visiting Northwestern today (Oct. 1), but fell in four sets, 3-1, never losing by more than three points.

Northwestern came into the match atop the standings and unbeaten in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play, but were pushed to the brink in each set by Morris.

The Eagles (16-2, 4-0 UMAC) had to work overtime for their first set win, taking the frame 28-26, before going up 2-0 with a 25-22 win in the second. The Cougars (10-5, 2-2 UMAC) held off the sweep with a 25-22 win in the third, but Northwestern played their best set of the day to take the match with a 25-23 win in the fourth.

Northwestern hit .261 with 18 kills to take the deciding fourth set, but the Cougars had the best mark of the day with their .275 tally in their third-set win.

In the final set the Cougars made it interesting with a late run. Facing elimination down 24-20, Morris ripped off the next three points to pull within one. The run was halted though, when – after calling a timeout – the Eagles got the game, and match, winning kill.

The Cougars ran out to a 10-0 lead in the third, with Allie Humphrey and Emily Auch combining for five kills in the stretch. Auch finished the match with 12 kills, and Humphrey had 10, with four different Cougars finishing in double-digits.

Kaylie Clark led the charge with a season high 17, with Steph Schmeising also adding 12. Schmeising hit the .300 mark for the sixth time on the year, while Humphrey led the team with a .364, making just two errors in her 22 attempts for her second best mark of the year.

Twin sister Brita Humphrey led the way on defense with 20 digs, her best mark of the season, while five total players charted double-digits. Clark notched her third straight double-double with 19 digs in the back row, with Natalie Thomas adding 15, and Michele Hanson and Auch digging up 13 and 12 respectively.

Thomas finished with 48 assists, leading the Cougars to a .221 hitting mark as a team, and despite the loss, their fifth best mark of the year. Northwestern was held to a .212 mark in the match.

It was a close match the entire way though, with the scored tied 19 times and 11 lead changes. The only set without a tie was the third, where the Cougars jumped out early and led the entire way.

Three straight points late in the first set gave the Cougars a 25-24 lead, but the Eagles answered to take four of the next five points and the set. The second set sat tied at 18-18 before Northwestern took the next two. The next seven points went back and forth, before the Eagles took the final two to go up two sets to none.

The Cougars hit the road for a midweek match on Oct. 4, heading to Presentation for a 7:00 p.m. serve. Then on Oct. 7 & 8 they return to the P.E. Center to host Bethany Lutheran and Martin Luther respectively. Match times are 7:00 p.m. on Friday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.