MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris volleyball team started Homecoming Weekend off with a bang on Friday night, sweeping Martin Luther College, 3-0 (25-17, 25-10, 25-19). The Cougars compiled a team hitting percentage of .400 on the night in improving to 6-11 (3-3 UMAC).

It was a career night for Sydney Eckhoff, who finished with 12 kills and seven digs. Maggie Jones added 10 kills and a match-high .588 hitting percentage, while both Laura Wellbrock and Lydia Nash added eight kills apiece.

Minnesota Morris burst out of the gates with 8-1 leads in both the first and second sets, never trailing at any point to take a 2-0 lead over the Knights. A brief Martin Luther challenge at 13-9 in the first set was answered by five straight points from the Cougars to retake command of the set. The second set was over almost from the start and UMN Morris led by double-digits much of the way.

Only in the third set did Martin Luther offer much resistance. The Knights had their only two leads of the night early on and were still within a point at 11-10 before Minnesota Morris scored five straight points to take a 16-10 lead. MLC fought to stay close and had it within four at 22-18, but an Eckhoff kill and a block from Jones and Nash gave the Cougars a match point. Two points later, a Jones kill finished it off.

Newton had a match-high 34 assists on the night, while Alyssa Ukestad led all players in the match with 13 digs. 

Minnesota Morris finishes the weekend off with a 3:30 p.m. match tomorrow afternoon back at James Gremmels Court against Bethany Lutheran College.