MORRIS, Minn. – Minnesota Morris showed they can compete with the preseason favorite in the MIAC but fell to Bethel in five sets. Abby Tietz had 19 kills in the match; the first one gave her 1,000 in her career. Marissa Ekness led all Cougars with 20 kills, setting a new career high.
Brooke Decker set a new career high with 41 assists in the match. Katie Reitsma had a career high 28 digs to lead the defense.
 
Morris battled with the Royals but their offense seemed to be the difference. They hit .316 as a team with 69 kills. Bethel also slowed the Cougars offense with ten blocks in the match.
 
The first was a tight one but Bethel scored three straight to hold a 14-12 lead. Morris would tie the set but could not grab a lead and the Royals took set one 25-22.
 
In the second set Bethel grabbed a 5-2 lead before Morris scored six straight and took an 8-5 lead. Bethel tied the set at eight Morris held on until five straight points gave Bethel a 17-15 lead, forcing a Cougar timeout. The timeout worked and UM scored three straight. Morris held on for a 25-23 win thanks to a kill from Ekness.
 
Bethel took the third set 25-18 after erasing an 8-5 deficit. With the score 12-11 in favor of Morris, the Royals went on a run taking a 19-14 lead before winning the set.
 
The Cougars had an early lead in the fourth set after a kill from Brooke Decker making the score 10-8. Decker finished the match with seven kills, setting a new career high. As the set went further Morris held a 19-16 lead before the Royals rallied and tied the set at 21 and even took a 22-21 lead, forcing a UMM timeout. The rest of the set was a back and forth battle but Morris came out on top 28-26 after facing match point at 26-25.
 
The Royals came out on fire in the fifth set, jumping out to a 7-1 lead. Morris could only get as close three before falling 15-7.