University of Minnesota, Morris, 0
Northwestern College, 3
The consolation of playing well when losing has famously diminishing returns for the players and coaches who played well and lost. It feels good to play well, sure, but a win is a win is a win.
You might suspect that feeling is creeping into the UMM volleyball team, who dropped a very competitive conference opener to Northwestern College in three sets (25-23, 25-23, 25-22).
The loss dropped UMM to 5-10 on the year, while Northwestern, the reigning UMAC champ, improved to 6-9.
The first set swung back and forth without either team able string points together on serve. Tied at 20, the Eagles surged ahead on a Greta King kill and a service ace from Kelsey Korporal. Trailing 23-20, the Cougars surged back courtesy of two straight Northwestern attack errors. Megan Theis knotted the game one point later with one of her nine kills on the night. Consecutive UMM setting and attack errors handed the set back to the Eagles, 25-23.
The second set appeared very much like the first with neither team able to open a margin greater than three points. Finding themselves tied again at 20, Northwestern went to its frontline ace, Steph Koth, who hammered three kills on the next four points to open a 24-20 lead. The Cougars closed that gap to one after two Eagle errors and a service ace from Natalie Thomas, but could get no closer.
Starting the third set, the Eagles rushed out to a 15-6 lead and it looked as if the third set would be quick and painful. But after head coach Chad Braegelmann called a timeout, his team rallied behind long service runs from Jordan Olerud and Allie Humphrey to tie the game at 22. Again, the rally seemed to exhaust the Cougars energy. Northwestern took the final three points of the set for a 3-0 match win.
In the end, it was the short stetches that cost the Cougars the match. “Just little intervals that we gave them. Missed serves, a couple hitting errors, and a couple good plays on their part. That gives them the game,” captain Colleen Hermes said afterwards.
At the net UMM was led by Theis, Olerud (five kills), and Stephanie Schmiesing (five kills). Defensively, the Cougars came up with six blocks during the match. Olerud and Lindsay Jacobson recorded game highs in digs with 12 and seven respectively.
The volleyball team hits the hardwood again in the morning (9/26) for a tri-match with Crown College (11 a.m.) and Trinity Bible Collge (2 p.m.).
University of Minnesota, Morris, 0