MORRIS, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Morris Volleyball team battled to a victory against North Central University in an impressive show of offensive and defensive skill. 

The Cougars opened up the scoring in the first set, being led by a block from Lacie O'Leary and Madeline Monaco followed by a kill from Laura Wellbrock. The Ram's attempt to even up the score was squashed by O'Leary as she threw down back to back kills assisted by Sydney Petersen. Minnesota Morris continued to run away with the game, not allowing North Central to gain any offensive momentum. Two kills from Mary Cate Ziembiec and a service ace from Melanie Monaco were the final three points of the set for the Cougars, cementing their 25-13 victory in set one.

The Rams led the scoring in set two, jumping out to an early 8-3 lead over the Cougars. Anna Molstad rallied the Cougars with a kill that kicked off a scoring run to tie the game 11-11. A five point scoring run at 14-14, featuring a kill from O'Leary and Petersen as well as a service ace from Clara Holden, gave the Cougars the lead for the first time in the set at 18-14. Both teams fought to put the set away, but the Cougars were the ones to tie it up and win with a three point scoring run at 25-25. Wellbrock threw down a kill for the 25th point, Tori Scheler and Molstad blocked an attack for the 26th point, and Holden served up an ace for the 27th point to put the set away with Minnesota Morris leading 27-25. 

The third set kicked off the same as the first with O'Leary and Madeline Monaco going in on a block to open the scoring in favor of the Cougars. Minnesota Morris was quick to find the lead, getting up 9-5 thanks to kills from Melanie Monaco, Scheler, and Ziembiec. O'Leary and Wellbrock led the next scoring run to push the gap to 15-7 in favor of the home team. The Cougars kept their foot on the gas for the remainder of the set, showing their offensive and defensive abilities and retiring the set with a 25-13 lead to end the match in three sets. 

Ziembiec was instrumental to the Cougar's victory on both offense and defense. She threw down eleven kills on the day while also totaling up ten digs to go with it. Holden served up two aces for Minnesota Morris. O'Leary racked up an impressive four blocks on the day, while Petersen handed out sixteen set assists for her teammates.