MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota Morris volleyball team once again battled against a tough MIAC opponent but fell to Augsburg University, 3-1 (12-25, 25-22, 19-25, 21-25) on Friday afternoon to start the Augsburg University Invitational.

Minnesota Morris got off to a slow start with only three kills in the first set. After Maggie Jones gave the Cougars the first point of the match, Augsburg recorded five points in a row. Lydia Nash and Laura Wellbrock had the other two kills in the set but it was not enough to keep the Cougars in it as the Auggies took a quick 1-0 lead.

The service game proved vital for Minnesota Morris to level the match at a set apiece. Though the offense was improved in the second set, it was a combination of nine aces from the Cougars or service errors from the Auggies that made the difference. After trailing by as many as six, 17-11, Minnesota Morris came back to tie the score at 21-21. Tied two points later at 22-22, the Cougars scored the final three points on a bad Augsburg set and a pair of aces from Wellbrock.

Things continued going well in the third set as a seven-point run from the Cougars gave them a 14-10 lead thanks to the strong serving of Nash. Augsburg turned the tide after using a timeout however, overtaking Minnesota Morris at 17-16 and never trailing again to go up, 2-1.

After Augsburg scored 10 of the first 11 points of the fourth set, the Auggies looked set to coast to victory. Minnesota Morris had other ideas, rallying back to within a point at 15-14. Augsburg was finally able to stem the tide, reeling off five straight and holding on from there to win by a score of 25-21.

Anna Molstad led Minnesota Morris on the day with eight kills. Nash finished with six kills and six aces. Jones finished with five blocks (one solo). McKenzie Newton notched a double-double with 24 assists and 10 digs, while Alyssa Ukestad notched 19 digs and Sydney Eckhoff was right behind with 18 digs.

Minnesota Morris wraps up the Augsburg tournament tomorrow with a pair of matches against two ranked opponents. The day begins with a 9:30 a.m. match against No. 17 Gustavus Adolphus College. At 12 p.m., the Cougars will square off with No. 5 and defending national champion UW-Eau Claire.