ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris volleyball team fell in three hard-fought sets at #4 University of Northwestern on Saturday, dropping a 3-0 decision (21-25, 28-30, 22-25) to the Eagles. The loss sinks the Cougars to 13-5 (6-1 UMAC) on the season, while UNW moves into first place at 15-2 (6-0 UMAC).

The opening set gave a preview of what was to come as Northwestern and Minnesota Morris were tied on 13 occasions. The final deadlock came at 21-21 before the Eagles reeled off the final four points to claim an early 1-0 advantage.

Northwestern led 4-0 out of the gates in the second set and still had a 5-3 lead when Minnesota Morris rattled off eight straight points. Mary Cate Ziembiec had two aces in that stretch while Maggie Jones contributed a kill and a block. The Cougars would lead by as many as seven, but the Eagles battled back to take a 23-21 edge. Three straight from UMN Morris that included a kill and an ace from Laura Wellbrock gave the Cougars the first of what would turn out to be three set points, however UNW managed to stave off Minnesota Morris on each occasion. Ziembiec knotted the score one final time at 28-28 before kills from Abby Glanzer and Kiera Brown pushed Northwestern out to a 2-0 lead.

Midway through the third set, Northwestern had scrapped its way to a six-point lead and looked to be cruising towards the sweep, but Minnesota Morris battled to make the Eagles work for it. Five straight points for the Cougars tied the score up at 17-17 and UMN Morris again drew level at 21-21. In the final moments of the set, Northwestern was able to come up with the big points, including two kills from Glanzer to finish it off at 25-22.

Wellbrock finished with a team-high nine kills in the match, while Anna Molstad added eight. McKenzie Newton finished the afternoon with 25 assists. Sydney Eckhoff led the Cougars with 13 digs, with Ava Brunn adding nine. Minnesota Morris notched nine blocks in the match, with Jones contributing one solo block and five block assists.

Minnesota Morris will head to the College of Saint Benedict for a pair of non-conference matches on Oct. 14. The Cougars will square off with Concordia College-Moorhead at 3 p.m. before facing the home team at 5:30 p.m.