Box Score MOORHEAD, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris volleyball team defeated Concordia College, 3-2 (20-25, 25-20, 25-21, 18-25, 15-7), Tuesday night in Moorhead, Minn.
 
The Cougars improve to 3-3 with the win, while the Cobbers fall to 2-3.
 
The opening set featured a series of runs. Minnesota Morris started strong with three straight points, beginning with a kill from Ella Johnson. After back-and-forth momentum from both teams, the set was tied at 11-11. The score continued to trade hands until Concordia built a 22-18 lead. The Cougars attempted a late rally but ultimately dropped the set, 25-20.
 
Concordia built an early lead in the second set. A kill from Payton Merth brought UMM even at 6-6, but another Cobber run pushed them ahead by five. The Cougars stayed close, and a four-point surge—featuring two kills from Merth and an ace from Braxtyn Meyer—put them within striking distance. Minnesota Morris tied the set at 19-19 following a kill from Tori Scheler. UMM then went on a 5-1 rally, highlighted by four kills from Mary Cate Ziembiec, to win the set 25-20.
 
Set three opened with an ace from Clara Holden. Following a pair of Cobber errors and a kill from Bella Nelson, UMM built a three-point advantage. However, Concordia answered with eight unanswered points to take control. Minnesota Morris responded with a 6-1 run, including a Ziembiec kill and back-to-back Holden aces, narrowing the gap to two. The Cougars eventually tied the set with a well-placed attack from Scheler. UMM closed out the set by scoring the final four points, winning 25-21, with Merth serving an ace on set point.
 
Meyer opened the fourth set with back-to-back kills for UMM. Neither team could pull away early, but Concordia used a four-point run to build its largest lead. The Cobbers continued to press, but the Cougars stayed close. After a Merth ace, UMM trailed by just two. However, they couldn't complete the comeback, and Concordia finished the set on a 5-1 run to win it 25-18.
 
In the decisive fifth set, the Cobbers opened with three quick points before a Nelson kill stopped the run. The Cougars pulled even after an ace from Ziembiec. Another ace from Ziembiec made it 5-3, prompting a Concordia timeout. Kills from Nelson and Meyer fueled a seven-point rally. A Scheler kill extended the Cougar lead to 11-5. Minnesota Morris held firm and won the final set 15-7 to take the match.
 
Ziembiec led the Cougar offense with 13 kills. Meyer and Nelson followed with nine each. Holden set up the UMM offense totaling 35 assists. The Cougars also found success from the service line, recording 10 aces, including a match-high four from Meyer.
 
Defensively, three Cougars reached double figures in digs: Lexi Coon (19), Ziembiec (14), and Holden (12). At the net, Scheler recorded three of the team's four blocks.
 
Minnesota Morris heads to Houston, Texas, for three matches later this week. UMM opens the tournament against the University of St. Thomas (TX) on Friday at 12:15 p.m.