Notables
-Third time in the last four seasons, CSS ends year with a five-set loss in the UMAC Tournament
-Bounds had a career-high 12 kills in all three matches vs. MLC this season
-Sixth straight match Houser recorded at least 10 kills
-Only the second loss this season for CSS with a hitting pct. above .200 (10-2)

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NEW ULM, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica volleyball team rallied from 12 points down to take set one and then fought off four match points in the fifth set, but it wasn't enough as Martin Luther College prevailed in five sets in an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Tournament First Round match Monday night.
 
The Action
The Saints got off to a very slow start as the Knights recorded the first six points of the match. Eventually, Martin Luther (16-16) opened up a 22-10 lead and it appeared the Knights would take the opening set. However, the Saints had other ideas.
 
Four straight errors by MLC made it 22-14. A kill by the Knights made it 23-14, but another error by Martin Luther gave the Saints a side out. CSS took advantage of it and Brooke Schermann (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) would serve out the set in an incredible rally. CSS recorded the final 11 points to take set one 25-23.
 
Credit the Knights, they bounced back in the second set. The set was back-and-forth until MLC went on an 8-0 run to take a 24-15 lead and this time closed out the set 25-18 to even the match.
 
The third set would be another battle with 17 ties and four lead changes. Martin Luther earned a set point at 24-23, but an Emily Bounds (Hill City, Minn./Hill City HS) kill made it 24-24. An Espi Austvold (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer HS) service ace gave the Saints a set point. However, a MLC kill made it 25-25. CSS followed with a Christaia Houser (Esko, Minn./Homeschool) kill to earn another set point. This time Houser and Kelsi Rippberger (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) teamed up for a block to give the Saints a 2-1 lead in the match at 27-25.
 
Once again Martin Luther responded and kept its season alive by not trailing at all in the fourth set to take it 25-18 and force a winner-take-all fifth set.
 
CSS trailed 7-1 in the fifth set. The Saints got a little closer, but the Knights led 14-10 and had four chances to close out the match. CSS kept the match going following a kill by Schermann and back-to-back kills by Bounds. A block by Madissen Burns (Watertown, Minn./Watertown-Mayer HS) and Tatum Swanson (Carlton, Minn./Wrenshall HS) got the Saints all the way back at 14-14.
 
Unfortunately, MLC followed with back-to-back kills to take the match 16-14.
 
Notable Performances
Schermann and Bounds each led the Saints with 12 kills apiece. Houser added 11 kills and five blocks in her final match as a Saint. McKenzie Orr (Rice Lake, Wis./Rice Lake HS) had 25 digs. Austvold recorded 24 assists and Rippberger added 21 assists.
 
Jade St. Germaine had a match-high 26 kills for Martin Luther, who moves on to face the University of Northwestern (Minn.) on Wednesday in the UMAC semifinals.
 
End of Season
The Saints season end with a 13-19 overall record. CSS will say goodbye to a pair of seniors in Houser and Brooke Elvehjem (Mora, Minn./Mora HS). For future information on the St. Scholastica volleyball program, keep checking csssaints.com.