MORRIS, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Morris Volleyball team took on Crown College on James Gremmels Court. The thrilling match ended in a victory for the Cougars in three sets (25-17, 25-12, 25-22). Cougar Volleyball moves to 6-2 in conference play following the win with an 11-9 record overall. 

The Cougars got their scoring rolling on the day with a block from Madeline Monaco and Mary Cate Ziembiec, following this up with two service aces from Ziembiec and a kill from Lacie O'Leary to jump to a 4-1 lead. Crown responded to tie up the game early at 4-4. Minnesota Morris maintained their lead over the Polars, but the visiting team battled to stay in the game. The Cougar's first significant lead of the day came from a five point run to boost the score from 17-15 to 21-15. Sydney Petersen kicked off the scoring run with a kill, and assisted Laura Wellbrock on a kill that finalized the 21st point. Crown was only able to score two more points on the home team, and Anna Molstad put the first set away with a kill assisted by Ava Brunn. 

Minnesota Morris jumped out to an early 12-3 lead which can be credited to the prowess exhibited by the hitters on the Cougar's offense. Continuing to expand their lead, Tori Scheler and Anna Molstad each threw down a kill and went in on an assisted block to kick off a five point scoring run. Up 18-5, Molstad and Macey Bosard kept the momentum going with kills for the 18th and 19th points. Crown attempted to close the scoring gap, managing to take a few points off the Cougars in intense rallies. O'Leary, a valuable asset for Minnesota Morris in this game, scored points 24 and 25 off assists from Allison Dornseif to close out set two. 

The Cougar's attempt to run away with set three was foiled by the Crown offense. Down 1-7 early in the set, the Polars took five points off Minnesota Morris to bring the game back within one point. Using that momentum, the Crown offense took their first lead of the match, getting up 12-10. Kills from Ella Johnson and Molstad tied the score back up. The Polars hung on to their lead to get to 16-14. O'Leary rallied the Cougars, scoring four points for the team and gaining back an 18-16 lead. Johnson earned a solo block and two more kills from O'Leary extended the lead to 21-17. The Polars continued to steal points from Minnesota Morris, but the Cougars closed out the set with a tight score of 25-22. 

O'Leary led the Cougars in kills with fourteen on the day, demonstrating her offensive prowess at the net. Madeline Monaco totaled up an impressive eight blocks. Petersen led Minnesota Morris in assists and digs, earning seventeen and eleven respectively. 

Minnesota Morris will head on the road this weekend, taking on Martin Luther College (Oct. 25, 7 pm) and Bethany Lutheran (Oct. 26, 1 pm).