Notables
-St. Scholastica's first win over Northwestern since 2011
-Schermann reaches 800 career kills in 100th career match
-First time rallying from two sets down since 2012
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – A five-set thriller was on hand for the large crowd packed in the Reif Gymnasium Tuesday night for a regular season matchup between Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) rivals, the St Scholastica Saints and the University of Northwestern (Minn.) Eagles. The Saints battled back from two sets down to win in a dramatic fifth set.
How It Happened
Northwestern started out the set with a quick eight-point lead. The Saints would begin their seven-point rally with a
Morgan Lohmiller (Pequot Lakes, Minn./Pequot Lakes HS) kill. An 8-7 lead was still in favor of the Eagles following the run. Back and forth scoring would ensue until a small run by the Saints would bring them back and tie the score at 15-15 and once again at 16-16. Northwestern would take the lead at 17-16 and would not look back winning the set 25-21.
St. Scholastica started out the set with a service ace by
Espi Austvold (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer HS). The set would be filled with feisty rallies early, but the Saints would be unable to gain the lead again. A run of four points in five rallies would bring the Saints within three points of the Eagles, but errors would be the detriment to their comeback. Northwestern took the second set 25-14 to go up 2-0 in the match.
The Saints would reverse the roles this set with a strong lead from the start while finding solid, error-free play all around. CSS got on the board first with a kill from
Madissen Burns (Watertown, Minn./Watertown-Mayer HS). The Saints would enhance their lead with kills by Lohmiller and two straight points by way of
Haley Rohwer (Norwood Young America, Minn./Mayer Lutheran HS). St. Scholastica's smallest lead came out of the gates with three straight points. Northwestern would bring the Saints lead down to one at 3-2, but CSS would dominate the remainder of the set winning 25-15, bringing the Northwestern match lead to 2-1.
Solid plays and incredible volleys from both teams led to 16 lead changes in the fourth set. St. Scholastica took the early lead in the set, but Northwestern would lead 6-3. A four-point run would bring the Saints back within one. The Saints tied the set up at 7-7. Scoring would bounce back and forth with the greatest lead being three for the Saints at 22-19 and the set winning score of 25-22. St. Scholastica has scrapped their way back to tie the match at 2-2.
Northwestern started out the fifth set with a 3-0 lead on the Saints. St. Scholastica would battle back to earn five of the next six points to go up 5-4. The Saints and Eagles would exchange the lead twice before the Saints would ultimately hold onto the lead and earn the hard-fought victory over the Eagles 15-12 in the fifth set of the match.
Top Performers
Brooke Schermann (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) led the way for the Saints offensively with 15 kills. Burns, Lohmiller and Rohwer followed with eight kills each. Austvold had 26 assists, while
Katie Brostrom (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) added on 24 assists.
Alcia Draper (Williams, Minn./Lake of the Woods HS) tied her a season-high for digs with 29 in the win.
Up Next
The Saints (9-4) will continue their Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) schedule this Saturday when they host Bethany Lutheran College in the Reif Gymnasium. Start time is scheduled for 3 p.m.
