SAINT PAUL, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Morris Volleyball team took on Concordia University Wisconsin in their final match of the Saint Paul Tournament (25-21, 23-25, 21-25, 14-25), losing the match in four sets after taking the first.

The Cougars jumped out in front in the first set, kicking off the scoring and maintaining a gap between themselves and the Falcons that allowed them a 10-4 lead at one point in the set. Kills from Lacie O'Leary (4) and Laura Wellbrock (3) and assists from Sydney Petersen (5) led the Cougars offense. On the defensive side, Minnesota Morris effectively shut down any chance of Concordia Wisconsin running away with the game and allowing the Cougars to finish the set with a score of 25-21.

Minnesota Morris Volleyball battled through the second set of play, nearly matching the Falcons point for point. A run late in the set put Concordia Wisconsin up 24-20. The Cougars managed to steal three points back from the Falcons, finished by a block from O'Leary and Tori Scheler, before a kill ended the set 25-23 in favor of Concordia Wisconsin. 

The Falcons ran away with scoring at the beginning of the third set. In a 17-10 deficit, the Cougars answered back with Wellbrock leading the way to bring the score up 17-16. Concordia Wisconsin shut down the Cougar scoring run, and responded with seven points of their own, bringing the scoring to 24-17. Anna Molstad's three kills was not enough to pull the Cougars to the lead, and the Falcons took the set 25-21.

Putting up just fourteen points of their own in the set, the Cougar offense could not match the Falcons for points. Minnesota Morris started the match with a 9-1 gap in scoring, which they were unable to close. The Falcons took the set with a commanding 25-14 lead, not letting up on the Cougar defense.

Wellbrock led the Cougars with 12 kills, while Molstad was close behind and threw down 11. Clara Holden totaled 17 assists on the day, matching Ava Brunn's 17 digs on defense.

The Cougars will take to the court again at the Falcon Invite on Friday, Sep. 6 against St. Olaf College. The match is slated to begin at 3 p.m.