Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - The Minnesota Morris volleyball team got off to a good start on the first day of the Sandy Schumacher Memorial Tournament on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Friday.

The Cougars four matches in the tournament include a tilt against a nationally-ranked team and two more against squads who are just on the outskirts of the rankings. Against the tough competition, Minnesota Morris showed they are a team to be reckoned with too as they knocked off UW-River Falls in four sets in their first match on Friday.

UMM did fall to the Falcons 25-19 in the first set, but took the next three sets 25-16, 25-15, 25-21.

In a balanced attack, three Cougars reached double digits in kills and in digs. Marissa Ekness led with 15 kills with Lindsey Markel and Morgan Miller each totaling 11. Katie Reitsma had 19 digs with Lizzie Kaiser adding 14 and Layne Herrmann contributing 10. Herrmann had another great setting effort with 37 assists.

In their next match, Minnesota Morris fell to St. Thomas in straight sets.

Play continues Saturday for the Cougars (10-11) at 10 a.m. with matches against Gustavus Adolphus and UW-Oshkosh.