NEW ULM, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Morris Cougars are on the road this weekend, making their first stop to take on the Martin Luther College Knights. The Cougars came away from the game with a dominant 3-0 victory over the Knights. Minnesota Morris now holds a 7-2 record in conference play with a 12-9 record overall. 

The Cougars jumped out to an early lead in the first set of the game, getting up 14-5 on the home team thanks to kills from Mary Cate Ziembiec, Lacie O'Leary, Anna Molstad, and Tori Scheler. The Knights were able to close the scoring gap, bringing the game as close as 19-16 before Minnesota Morris put the set away in two scoring runs. Scheler, assisted by Laura Wellbrock scored the 20th point. Point 21 came off a kill from Wellbrock with an assist from Molstad, followed by an error from Martin Luther for the 22nd point. The Knights took one more from the Cougars, before a kill from Scheler, a block from Molstad, and an error from Martin Luther put the set away at 25-17.

Jumping out to another early lead, the Cougars asserted their offensive and defensive dominance on the court. The visiting team spread the wealth on offense, with multiple Minnesota Morris players earning kills and assists throughout the set. With a commanding 19-14 lead, the Cougars kicked off a six point scoring run to end the set. Ziembiec earned two kills in the run, being assisted by Holden and Wellbrock. Molstad also threw down a kill and earned the set winning block. Minnesota Morris finished the set with a 25-14 lead, looking to end the match in set three.

The scoring in the third set of the game started off close, with both teams being unable to score more than a few points at a time. Things really started to heat up for the Cougars later in the set, when a five point scoring run gave Minnesota Morris a 19-14 lead over the Knights. Molstad kicked off the run for the Cougars with a kill from Holden. Holden earned her own kill on the next point. Molstad and Ziembiec both forced attack errors from Martin Luther with solo blocks to finish off the run. The Knights closed the scoring gap, cutting the Cougar lead down to 21-20. Madeline Monaco threw down a kill to start a three point scoring run. Scheler followed with a block at the net, and Wellbrock scored the 24th point off an assist from O'Leary. The Knights were able to steal one more point from Minnesota Morris before Scheler put the set away with a kill to finalize a 25-21 score.

Molstad led the Cougars in kills and blocks, with eight and three respectively. Scheler also totaled up three blocks on the night. Holden led Minnesota Morris with an impressive sixteen set assists, while Ziembiec and Melanie Monaco each popped up eleven digs. 

The Cougars will take on the Bethany Lutheran College Vikings Oct. 26 at 1 pm in their second road game of the weekend.