University of Minnesota Morris Athletics

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris volleyball team ended its three-match losing streak by defeating North Central University 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 28-26) in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis, Minn.
 
The Cougars improve to 11-10 overall and 6-3 in the UMAC, while the Rams drop to 4-11 overall and 0-8 in conference play.
 
The Cougars scored the opening point of the match with a kill from Ella Johnson. UMM went on an early three-point run with kills from Natalie Wahl and Johnson and a block from Johnson. Another three-point run pushed the lead to four, with Bella Nelson recording her first kill of the match. The Rams cut the lead to one twice, but service errors on the following points prevented them from tying the set. Wahl restored the three-point advantage with Sella Fleming setting up the attack. Braxtyn Meyer registered her first kill, followed by a block from Meyer and Nelson, to give UMM a 16-12 lead. NCU pulled within two late in the set, but the Cougars scored the final four points, including a kill from Nelson and a block by Tori Scheler, to take the first set 25-19.
 
Wahl opened the scoring in the second set. The Cougars built an early 10-1 lead with kills from Nelson, Scheler, and Johnson, along with blocks from Scheler, Johnson, and Nelson. The lead grew to 10 after three consecutive kills by Fleming, Wahl, and Meyer. The Rams cut into the lead by scoring six straight points. Mia Etsitty saw her first action of the season and recorded an ace on her first serve. Fleming added another kill, extending the lead to 20-11. Fleming scored off the serve for the final three points of the set, helping UMM secure a 25-12 win.
 
Kaelyn Greenly scored the first Cougar point of the third set with a block, followed by an ace from Wahl. Points were traded throughout the set, with Oliviah Lorber, Wahl, and Johnson recording kills, Wahl and Ryla Koehler scoring from the service line, and Lorber, Johanna Bartkey, Wahl, and Greenly contributing blocks. Wahl converted an attack, followed by an ace from Koehler, to give UMM a two-point edge at 18-16. Minnesota Morris built on that advantage by scoring three more points, with Koehler adding another ace. Carlie Ross recorded her first kill of the season, pushing the lead to five. NCU quickly fought back, cutting the lead to one at 23-22. The set was tied at 25-25, but kills from Johnson and Lorber and a block from Nelson and Lorber helped UMM win the final set 28-26.
 
The Cougars finished the match with a .148 hitting percentage, with their best performance coming in the first set, when they hit .281. Wahl led the attack with nine kills, while Johnson and Nelson followed with eight and six, respectively. Nine Cougars recorded at least one kill, the most this season. Fleming tallied 16 assists in the win. Minnesota Morris totaled nine service aces, with Fleming and Koehler leading the team with three each.
 
Defensively, Rachel Bopp recorded a team-high 15 digs, with Johnson one behind at 14. Fleming also reached double digits with 13 digs. The Cougars recorded a team-high 11 blocks, with Nelson, Lorber, and Scheler each contributing three.
 
The Cougars continue their road trip as they travel to Martin Luther College for a 7 p.m. contest on Friday.