NEW ULM, Minn. – Minnesota Morris (17-5, 8-1 UMAC) had to battle from behind on Friday night, coming from a 2-1 deficit to win a five set thriller (17-25, 15-15, 19-25, 25-22, 15-8) over Martin Luther (9-13, 4-4 UMAC). The Cougars tied a season high with nine blocks to overcome 23 attack errors.
Abby Tietz had 17 kills, a season high, while hitting .319 in the match.
Emily Auch added 13 kills, teaming with Tietz to be the two Cougars in double figures offensively.
Hannah Terhaar had 26 digs on the night, which was 40 percent of the team digs in the match. She also added a team high four service aces along the way.
Brooke Decker had 24 assists.
Kayley Siekmann had 18 assists, four kills, and seven digs.
Martin Luther went on a 10-3 run in the first set to turn a 12-10 deficit into a 20-15 lead. They would hold off the Cougars and take the first set 25-17. Morris was in control of most of the second set, cruising to a 25-15 win, pulling away late.
The Knights jumped on the Cougars in the third set, going up 5-0 and forcing an early Cougar timeout. The lead would grow to 9-1 and Morris never recovered, falling 25-19. The fourth set was the closest set of the match. Martin Luther rallied after trailing 15-10 to tie the set at 16. It would be back and forth the rest of the way until UMM scored the final four points of the set to win 25-22.
It was all Minnesota Morris in the fifth set, jumping out to a 5-1 lead in a race to fifteen. The Knights got within three on a couple occasions but could not get any closer and the Cougars clinched the match with a 15-8 victory in the fifth set.
