Notables
-Northwestern ranked No. 25 in the AVCA Division III poll
-UNW had 11 blocks, while CSS was held to zero
-CSS had a season-high 45 kills and .344 hitting pct. vs. MLC
-CSS recorded nine blocks vs. MLC
MORRIS, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica volleyball team was able to get back in the "W" column on Friday night defeating Martin Luther College in the nightcap after falling to No. 25 University of Northwestern to open the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Preview Tournament.
#25 Northwestern 3, CSS 0
The Saints saw their losing skid extend to eight matches after getting swept by No. 25-ranked Northwestern to open the UMAC Preview Tournament.
CSS led 19-14 in the opening set against the Eagles, but two Northwestern kills paired with two CSS errors cut the margin to one. The Saints then got an
Amanda Belden (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) kill and an
Emily Kessler (Grand Rapids, Minn./Greenway HS (Itasca CC)) service ace to make it 21-18. Unfortunately, the Eagles recorded the next six points, which included three CSS errors and two Northwestern service aces. The Eagles took the set 25-22.
The second set was decided when Northwestern used a 9-1 run to break a 3-3 score. The Eagles took a two-set lead 25-14. The Eagles also never trailed in the third set to take the match 25-17.
Belden led the Saints with 12 kills and 14 digs.
Noelle Elvehjem (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) added eight kills and her sister
Brooke Elvehjem (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) had five kills. Kessler had 14 assists and
Espi Austvold (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer HS) recorded 13 assists.
CSS 3, Martin Luther 0
The Saints bounced back with their first three-set victory of the season over Martin Luther.
St. Scholastica never trailed in the first set against the Knights, taking it 25-13. CSS had 17 kills and a .419 attack percentage in the set. Belden had five of the 17 kills.
The second set would be tighter with 13 ties and eight lead changes. With the score tied at 16-16, the Saints registered the next four points off of Kessler's serve to give them the necessary breathing room to take the set 25-22.
CSS scored the first six points of the third set again off Kessler's serve. The Saints cruised in the third set to take the match 25-15.
Belden and N. Elvehjem each led the Saints with 10 kills.
Brooke Schermann (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) added eight kills. Kessler had 27 assists and
Emily Jansen (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle HS) had 13 assists.
Alex Barsody (Onamia, Minn./Onamia HS) had a team-high 16 digs.
Up Next
The Saints (2-8) will face the host University of Minnesota Morris at 11 a.m. followed by a meeting with Bridge Rival University of Wisconsin-Superior at 1 p.m. tomorrow to conclude the tournament.
