SUPERIOR, Wis. – The University of Minnesota Morris volleyball team outlasted the University of Wisconsin-Superior on Friday night in four hard-fought sets, 3-1 (27-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23). With the win, the Cougars improve to 18-6 (10-1 UMAC) on the season and lock up a home match in the UMAC semifinals. 

Minnesota Morris looked set to take the first set relatively easily, leading 22-17 following three straight points late in the frame. Seven quick points from UW-Superior suddenly gave the Yellowjackets a pair of set points, but attack errors from Emma Crandell tied it up at 24-24. UW-Superior would earn one more set point, but a kill from Laura Wellbrock tied it at 25-25 before kills from Lacie O'Leary and Wellbrock gave the opener to the Cougars.

A 6-2 lead early in the second set for UMN Morris disappeared as UW-Superior got hot and went in front, 14-8. The Cougars would fight back to tie the set at 23-23 before two straight from the Yellowjackets knotted the match up at 1-1.

UW-Superior led early on in the third set, but Minnesota Morris rallied and the set would end up tied on 10 occasions. The final tie came at 23-23 before a kill from Tori Scheler and a Crandall attack error finished it to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead on the night.

A kill from Wellbrock followed by an ace from the junior gave Minnesota Morris the lead for good in the fourth set, 15-14. The Cougars would eventually lead by as many as four points, but UW-Superior three times cut the deficit down to a single point. At 24-23, a potential kill from Kaylin Plautz was called an error for being in the net, giving the point, set, and match to the Cougars.

Wellbrock ended the night with 14 kills along with 19 digs. Both Scheler and Maggie Jones notched 10 kills, with a solo block and five block assists from Scheler and three block assists from Jones. McKenzie Newton totaled 45 assists and 12 digs. Ava Brunn led all players in the match with 41 digs, tying for the fifth most in a single match in program history. Sydney Eckhoff added 17 digs, while Mary Cate Ziembiec chipped in with 14 more.

Minnesota Morris plays its final road match of the regular season on Saturday morning, facing Northland College at 11 a.m.