MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota Morris (18-6, 9-1 UMAC) split a pair of matches on Saturday in Mankato. They beat Bethany Lutheran 3-1 to start the day before falling to Buena Vista 3-1 in the second match of the day.
 
Abby Tietz tied a season high with 17 kills against the Vikings. She was the lone Cougar in double figures in the match with Bethany Lutheran. With the win the Cougars clinched a spot in the UMAC Tournament with four matches left in the conference season.
 
Kayley Siekmann had 18 assists and Brooke Decker had 17 to set up the offensive attack. Hannah Terhaar had a team high 19 digs in the match.
 
The Cougars overcame a loss in the first set as the Vikings won the set 25-23. Morris would respond by winning the next three sets. They took the second set 25-19 and the third set 25-21 to gain a lead in the match. In the final set of the match, UMM held control and won by a score of 25-17.
 
The match with Buena Vista was similar to the one with Bethany except in reverse. The Cougars took the first set, winning 25-19. However, Buena Vista would respond taking the next three sets in order to win the match
 
Tietz had 13 kills and Emily Auch had ten to lead the offense. Both Siekmann and Decker had 15 assists each. Siekmann and Terhaar each had nine digs to lead the defense in the second match.