MINNEAPOLIS – The Cougars (9-5, 1-1 UMAC) swept North Central (3-8, 0-2 UMAC) on Saturday afternoon (25-13, 25-10, 25-15) picking up their first UMAC win of the year. Marissa Ekness led the offense with nine kills and a .500 hitting percentage.
 
As a team the Cougars hit .370 in the match with 38 kills and just eight errors. Morris used a seven point run in the first set to take a 13-5 lead and never looked back. The lead in the first set grew to as much as 12 at 22-10 before the Cougars picked up the 25-13 win.
 
Minnesota Morris jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the second set and then pulled away in the middle portion of the set thanks to a 10-0 run, giving UMM a 19-7 lead. The Cougars cruised to a 25-10 win in set two. UMM inserted some subs in the third set but was still able to make a run midway through and secured the sweep with a 25-15 win in the third set.
 
Tonight the Cougars play Crown at 7 p.m. to round out the first week of play in the UMAC.