MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris volleyball team gave No. 3 University of Northwestern everything it could handle on Thursday night before the Eagles came away with a 3-0 victory (25-20, 25-21, 25-12) over the Cougars. Minnesota Morris is now 4-9 (1-1 UMAC) on the year.

Northwestern bolted out to a 12-5 lead in the first set before a big Cougar rally tied the match up at 15-15. A fast start to the match from Anna Molstad staked Minnesota Morris to a 20-19 advantage as the set progressed until the Eagles were able to score six straight and take a 1-0 lead on the night.

In the second set, Minnesota Morris grew its lead to as many as five points, 15-10. Following a Northwestern timeout, the Eagles ran off 11 of the next 12 points to take a comfortable lead late in the set. Though the Cougars twice rallied to within two, UNW closed it out to take the two-set edge.

The third set was all Northwestern. After scoring the first three points of the set, the Eagles extended it out to 9-2 and the lead ballooned into double-digits late in the match.  

Maggie Jones led Minnesota Morris with eight kills and a .389 hitting percentage on the night while  adding three block assists. Molstad finished with seven kills and Laura Wellbrock had six. McKenzie Newton tallied 21 assists and Alyssa Ukestad finished with 17 digs.

Minnesota Morris is back at James Gremmels Court on Saturday afternoon, hosting North Central University at 4 p.m.