Notables
-Morrin records 1,000^th career kill in 100^th career match
-CSS snapped a five-match losing streak to Minnesota Morris
-The Saints had a season-high 12 blocks vs. UW-Superior
-CSS needs only one more win for its 700^th as a program
-First UMAC Preview Tournament since 2003, all non-conference matches

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ST. PAUL (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica volleyball team won its first two matches at the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Preview Tournament at the University of Northwestern on Friday, sweeping University of Minnesota Morris and downing new conference member University of Wisconsin-Superior in four sets.
 
CSS 3, UMM 0
The Saints opened the tournament against Minnesota Morris. If you recall, Morris ended the Saints' season in 2014 with a five-set victory in the UMAC Tournament semifinals.
 
Despite going on a 9-2 run to go up 17-8, the Saints had to scratch and claw to capture the opening set. Morris (5-6) battled back to eventually tie it at 23-23. After a CSS timeout, a Kortney Morrin (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg HS (Northern State)) kill and a Cougar attack error gave the Saints the set 25-23.
 
In that opening set, the aforementioned Morrin recorded her 1,000 career kill on her first kill of the match. She becomes the eighth known player to record 1,000 kills in a career in program history.
 
St. Scholastica controlled much of the second set and finished strong recording six of the last seven points to gain a two set lead 25-17.
 
The third set was all CSS as the Saints had a .545 hitting percentage in the set to win the match going away 25-11.
 
Morrin led the Saints with 10 kills on zero attack errors and also had a team-high 12 digs. Morrin also added four service aces. Noelle Elvehjem (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) added nine kills and Amanda Belden (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) chipped in seven kills. Emily Jansen (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle HS) had 21 assists. Alex Barsody (Onamia, Minn./Onamia HS) had 11 digs.
 
CSS 3, UWS 1
In the second match, CSS welcomed Bridge Rival UW-Superior to its first UMAC-organized event with four-set victory.
 
The first set was decided when the Saints went on an 8-1 run with UWS up 17-16. CSS took the set 25-20. The Yellowjackets (7-4) evened the match at a set apiece when they closed the second set by recording eight of the final nine points to take it by the same 25-20 score.
 
In the all-important third set, St. Scholastica took control early and stormed out to a 16-5 lead. CSS ultimately won the set 25-13. With the fourth set tied at 15-15, CSS again closed out strong going on a 10-2 run to win the set and the match 25-17. The Saints had a .448 attack percentage in the fourth set,
 
Elvehjem led the Saints with 11 kills, while Belden added nine kills on one hitting error. Jansen had 20 assists and Danielle Benusa (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) had a team-high 20 digs. Kariana DeYoung (Deer River, Minn./Deer River HS) had seven blocks for CSS, who recorded 12 as a team.
 
Up Next
The Saints (8-5) will take part in day two of the UMAC Preview Tournament on Saturday, facing host and defending UMAC champion University of Northwestern at 11 a.m. and finishing with Martin Luther College at 1 p.m.