MORRIS, Minn. - The Cougars (23-11) found a way to erase a 12-7 deficit in the fifth set to win 15-13, completing the comeback win over St. Scholastica (16-14) 3-2. Morris trailed after the first and third sets but thanks to a career high 24 kills from Abby Tietz; the Cougars picked up the win and advanced to the UMAC Championship match on Saturday against Northwestern.
 
As a team the Cougars had 106 total digs in the match, second most this season. Hannah Terhaar had a career high 35 digs to lead the team on the night. Emily Auch added a career high 27 digs.
 
Three other Cougars were in double figures offensively. Marissa Ekness had 13 kills, Cori Becker had 12 and Auch added 11. Morris overcame 32 attack errors on the night, one shy of a season high.
 
St. Scholastica jumped out to a 7-2 lead early in the first set and it took a bit for the Cougars to recover. Methodically, Morris cut into the lead and tied the set at ten. They could never get over the hump and the Saints held onto the lead for good after going up 12-11. Scholastica would go on to win 25-19 in the set.
 
It was Morris who jumped out in the second set, taking an early 7-3 lead and forcing a CSS timeout. St. Scholastica pulled within one at 9-8 but the Cougars built the lead back to three soon after. The Saints pulled within one again at 14-13; nevertheless the Cougars went on a 5-1 run forcing a timeout with the 19-14 lead. The Cougars would close out the set with a 25-18 victory.
 
The Saints were aggressive once more in the third set and took an 11-6 lead after a slight delay in the match due to a rules explanation. The Cougars pulled within three a couple times but CSS forced another timeout after taking a 17-12 lead. Morris never recovered and dropped the set 25-19.
 
Scholastica took advantage of a few Cougars errors in the fourth set to take a 7-2 lead out of the gate. A couple blocks helped the Cougars pull within two. A Tietz service ace tied the set at ten and then a block by Holly Duren and Auch gave the Cougars an 11-10 lead. Morris then tried to pull away taking a 19-15 lead late in the set, forcing a second CSS timeout.  The Cougars would hold on for 25-20 set four win and force a fifth set.
 
In the decisive set the Saints looked poised to take a 9-6 lead but they served out of rotation and a point was awarded to the Cougars which reset the score to 8-7. St. Scholastica battled through it and took a 12-7 lead late. Morris dug in however and scored four straight, cutting the lead to just one at 12-11. After a Saints kill, Tietz answered with her 24^th kill and pulled the Cougars within one at 13-12. Marissa Ekness took over from there and scored back-to-back kills, giving UMM the 14-13 lead. After a CSS timeout, the Cougars closed out the match after an attack from the Saints went just wide of the line.
 
The Cougars will now travel to St. Paul to take on Northwestern, Saturday night at 7 p.m. The winner will receive a spot in the NCAA Tournament match.