ST. PAUL, Minn. – The UMAC Game of the Week definitely lived up to its billing, going all five sets on Friday night. The Cougars (8-5, 0-1 UMAC) lost (25-17, 24-26, 25-27, 25-23, 15-6) to Northwestern in a re-match of the 2013 UMAC Championship match. Emily Auch (18) and Abby Tietz (16) led the way in kills on the day.
 
Morris was able to overcome a first set defeat to win the second and third set, taking a two sets to one lead. The difference was the Cougars side out percentage in the second and third sets.
 
UMM had 15-11 lead in the second set but Northwestern would tie it up at 16. The Eagles held a small lead late in the set but the Cougars, trailing 24-23, scored three straight to win the set.
 
Morris was the team who rallied in the third set, coming back from a 17-12 deficit to tie the set at 19. Again the Cougars found themselves trailing 24-23 but UMM would take a 25-24 lead. With the set tied at 25, Morris scored two straight, winning the set.
 
Minnesota Morris tried to put the match away in the fourth set, leading 16-13 but could not hold off UNW. Northwestern took the lead at 18-17 and held off the Cougars the rest of the set. Morris tied it at 23 but would lose the set 25-23. Northwestern used a 10-2 run in the fifth set to pull away for a 15-6 set five victory.
 
The Cougars will play both North Central and Crown tomorrow as they look to get back in the win column.