MORRIS, Minn. –  The University of Minnesota Morris volleyball team opens postseason play on Wednesday, traveling to the University of Northwestern for the semifinals of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
  
The stream can be found on the UMAC Sports Network or by clicking here. To follow the live stats click here.
 
In the final match of the regular season, the Cougars defeated the University of Wisconsin–Superior in five sets. Mary Cate Ziembiec led the way with 19 kills while hitting .333, followed by Anna Molstad with 13 kills. Clara Holden recorded 28 assists, and Allison Dornseif added 19. Lexi Coon anchored the defense with 20 digs.
 
This season, Ziembiec led the Cougar attack with 255 kills and earned two UMAC Offensive Player of the Week awards. The senior outside hitter averaged 2.97 kills per set while hitting .208. Ella Johnson followed with 158 kills, and first-year Bella Nelson added 154 in her debut season with UMM. Holden has tallied 486 assists in her sophomore campaign, with senior Dornseif adding 280. The Cougars led the UMAC in service aces this season, averaging 2.29 per set. Holden ranks third in the conference with 50 aces, while Johnson sits fourth with 33.
 
First-year standout Coon has led the defense and earned UMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors three times. The libero has totaled 421 digs, leading the conference with 4.63 per set. Ziembiec (244), Johnson (215), and Holden (211) have each surpassed the 200-dig mark. At the net, Tori Scheler leads the team with 52 blocks, ranking sixth in the UMAC at 0.63 per set.
 
Northwestern enters the conference tournament undefeated in UMAC play at 12-0 and holds a 21-7 overall record. The Eagles received votes in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll. Head coach Beth Wilmeth is in her 22nd season at UNW. The attack has been led by Anja Jarchow, Ana Egge, and Miranda Wyatt, each surpassing 260 kills. Addeson Jenniges leads the conference with 1,033 assists.
 
Defensively, Grace Moravchik leads the Eagles with 372 digs, ranking sixth in the UMAC. Hannah Rich and Mikayla Wilber follow with 264 and 218 digs, respectively. At the net, Aune Marley is second in Division III with 130 blocks, including 63 solo and 67 assisted.