MORRIS, Minn. - Minnesota Morris took a 2 sets to 0 lead on UMAC-leading Northwestern Wednesday, but the Eagles stormed back to take the final three sets to claim a five-set nail-biter (23-25, 27-29, 25-14, 25-20, 15-13) in UMAC volleyball action at the PE Center.
Minnesota Morris was the last team to defeat Northwestern in a UMAC regular season match; that was in 2013, 66 conference matches ago. They appeared to be on the verge of stopping UNW's streak by taking the first two sets. The Cougars stormed out of the gates scoring the first six points of the match. The Eagles fought back to within one at 9-8 and would later take a 19-18 lead. Later tied at 19, the teams would exchange the next eight points before the Cougars closed out the set with a
Morgan Miller kill and an Eagle error.
The Cougars went extra in the second set to extend their match lead. UMM trailed 17-9 before staging a comeback. They went on a five-point spurt to pull within 17-14. They fought back to tie it at 20 following back-to-back kills from
Tori Everson. UMM staved off three set points before claiming the set on a
Layne Herrmann kill.
Northwestern would take the next two sets to pull even and set up a thrilling deciding set. The Cougars trailed early before taking a 7-6 lead on an
Allison Yang service ace. Northwestern would take a 12-10 lead. A block assist from Herrmann and Miller and a kill from
Whitney Schwartz evened the set at 12. UNW would take three of the final points to claim the set and the match.
Everson led five Cougars in double figures with 16 kills. Schwartz and
Rachel Mathias each added 13. Herrmann collected 53 assists to go along with 16 digs.
Alyssa Ukestad led with 24 digs.
Brenna Tinjum collected a double-double with 15 digs and 11 kills.
Minnesota Morris (14-9, 9-3 in UMAC) travels to Ashland, Wis. to face Northland Friday night.
