Notables:
-Morris has won seven of the last eight meetings against the Saints
-First sweep of UWS since 2011
MORRIS, Minn. (
csssaints.com)- The St. Scholastica volleyball team lost early in the morning on Saturday to host University of Minnesota Morris 3-1. In the afternoon, however, the Saints were able to make a comeback as they swept the University of Wisconsin-Superior 3-0 to conclude play at the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Preview Tournament.
Minnesota Morris 3, CSS 1
The Saints were unable to have their first winning streak of the season as they were unable to takeover the Cougars in four set defeat to begin the day.
It was all Morris in the first set as it won easily 25-14. CSS had five attack errors, two receiving errors and a service error in the set. In the second set though, the Saints and Cougars went back-and-forth with 16 ties and seven lead changes. St. Scholastica had two set points at 24-22, but the Cougars were able to tie it at 24-24. The Saints would have three more set points before finally converting the third one when
Noelle Elvehjem (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) and
Christaia Houser (Esko, Minn./Homeschool) blocked Morris' attempt to take the set 28-26.
After trailing for most of the third set, the Saints took a 19-18 lead. The set would later be tied at 21-21. However, CSS would have two consecutive errors and that ultimately proved to be the difference in a 25-23 Morris set win. The battled in the fourth set, but ultimately never led in the set and the Cougars used a late five-point spurt to take the set and the match 25-20.
N. Elvehjem led the CSS team with 14 kills.
Emily Kessler (Grand Rapids, Minn./Greenway HS (Itasca CC)) had 20 assists, the most of any Saint.
Alex Barsody (Onamia, Minn./Onamia HS) recorded 22 digs.
CSS 3, UW-Superior 0
The Saints had not trouble with their Bridge Rival in their final match of the day, winning at least by nine points in each set to sweep the Yellowjackets.
UWS recorded more errors (28) and kills (26) in the match, while the Saints had 33 kills, compared to 11 errors. St. Scholastica trailed just once in the match and that was the first point of the second set.
Nikki Kienzle (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS) and
Christaia Houser (Esko, Minn./Homeschool) each had seven kills to pace the Saints.
Amanda Belden (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) and N. Elvehjem added six kills. Barsody had a team-high 15 digs and Kessler recorded 16 assists, while
Espi Austvold (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer HS) added 13 assists.
Up Next
The Saints (3-9) will have their home and conference opener when they host the University of Minnesota Morris at the Reif Gymnasium next Saturday. Match time is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.
