BOSTON, Mass. - After a shaking start, the Minnesota Morris volleyball team won their final six sets on Friday to take both matches at the New England Invitational at Clark Athletic Gym on the campus of UMass-Boston.

The Cougars defeated the host Beacons in the opener 3 sets to 1 (20-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-15). After dropping the first set, UMM grabbed two close frames before an easy fourth to claim the match.

In the second, the Cougars trailed 22-21 before closing out the set with four straight points. Rachel Mathias and Layne Herrmann teamed for a block to tie it. Two Bekah Morris aces secured the set win.

Minnesota Morris fell behind 4-0 in the third then rattled off eight of the next nine points to take an 8-5 lead. Just like in the second, the Cougars would close out the third with four straight points. Marissa Ekness started and ended the stretch with kills as the Cougars would lead 2 sets to 1.

The Cougars went on a 7-0 spurt in the middle of the fourth to take command. Three Mia Frick kills and an Ekness ace closed out the set and the match.

Ekness had a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs. Morgan Miller had 11 kills and five blocks. Layne Herrmann totaled 37 assists and Katie Reitsma dug out 27 balls.

Against Marymount University (Va.), the Cougars cruised to a straight sets (25-14, 25-22, 25-12) win. Ekness had 14 more kills while Miller added 13. Herrmann had 34 assists and Reitsma led with 27 digs.

Minnesota Morris (5-2) moves over to Tufts University in Medford, Mass. for two more matches Saturday. They take on No. 23 Tufts at noon eastern followed by a match with Bowdoin College.