Notables
-Second straight year CSS has lost in five sets in the UMAC Tournament semifinals
-CSS has now lost nine straight matches that went five sets
-Morrin injured early in the first set

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ST. PAUL (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica volleyball team jumped out to a two-set lead over top-seeded and regular season champion University of Northwestern, but the three-time defending UMAC Tournament champions rallied and defeated the Saints in five sets Wednesday night in a UMAC Semifinal contest at the Ericksen Center.
 
Losing Morrin Early
The Saints entered Wednesday's semifinal contest without senior defensive specialist Danielle Benusa (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS), who was injured in Monday night's match. Just seven points into the match tonight, CSS would lose its top player as Kortney Morrin (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg HS (Northern State)) went down with an injury.
 
Great Start
Despite losing Morrin, the Saints would rally in the first set. After trailing 17-14 they recorded 10 of the next 12 points and went on to take the opening set 25-21.
 
After falling behind early in the second set, the Saints started to take control and despite the Eagles hanging close, CSS held an advantage and took a two-set lead, winning 25-23.
 
Unable to Close Out the Champs
Northwestern has been down two sets to the Saints and rallied back to win in recent history. It was just last season that the Eagles rallied from two sets down to defeat the Saints at the Reif Gymnasium.
 
The third set was the combination of St. Scholastica's worst set of the night and Northwestern's best set. The Saints led the set 7-4 at one point, but the Eagles recorded the last nine points to win going away 25-12.
 
The fourth set came down to the wire. Both teams went back-and-forth throughout the set. The Saints would lead 23-22 and was two points away from victory. Following a Northwestern timeout, the Eagles recorded back-to-back kills and then a block to take the set 25-23.
 
Dreaded Fifth Set
The Saints entered the night having lost eight straight matches that went five sets and fell in last year's UMAC semifinals in five sets to the University of Minnesota Morris.
 
Northwestern recorded three straight points twice in the fifth set. The first time gave them enough cushion through the set as it turned a 3-2 deficit to a 5-3 lead. The second occurrence closed the match as the Saints got within 12-10, but once again two kills and block gave the Eagles the set and the match at 15-10.
 
The Numbers
Christaia Houser (Esko, Minn./Homeschool) led the Saints with 11 kills, Noelle Elvehjem (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) added 10 kills. Nikki Kienzle (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS) had nine kills and Kariana DeYoung (Deer River, Minn./Deer River HS) had eight kills. Emily Kessler (Blackberry, Minn./Greenway HS (Itasca CC)) and Emily Jansen (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle HS) each had 23 assists, while Alex Barsody (Onamia, Minn./Onamia HS) had a team-high 20 digs.
 
Northwestern was led by Shanay Gonder with 17 kills and Lindsey Peterson added 15 kills.
 
Thank You Seniors
The Saints will say goodbye to five seniors. Benusa, Morrin, DeYoung, Emily Cole (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg HS (UW-Superior)) and Kirsten Eaton (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS). The Saints finish with a record of 16-12. Northwestern (25-8) advances to the UMAC Tournament championship match Saturday where it will face Minnesota Morris, who swept UW-Superior tonight.
 
For future information on the St. Scholastica volleyball program, keep following csssaints.com.