Minnesota, Morris 3
St. Scholastica 0 (13, 23, 10)
The Cougar volleyball took a huge step toward the post-season tonight by sweeping St. Scholastica at the PE Center on Friday night. The victory was almost five years to the day when the Cougars last beat the Saints—a 3-1 win on October 22, 2004.
The match was a serious about-face for the Cougars who, just three weeks ago, folded a two-set lead to Scholastica in Duluth, losing in five.
Coming out with intensity early has been a challenge for the Cougars this season, but not this night. UMM ran out to a 13-3 lead behind a long serving run by first year Brita Humphrey. They maintained this ten point cushion for the remainder of the set, closing out the Saints at 25-13.
When head coach Chad Braegelmann wonders how much his team has progressed in 2009, he’ll look back to the second set of this match when the Cougars fell behind Scholastica 20-16. UMM rallied to tie the game at 21, but tied late has been a problem for the Cougars this season, often experiencing mental lapses on crucial points.
But not tonight.
In the huddle on a Scholastica time out Braegelmann said the attitude changed: “We’ve been there so many times before, I think they said ‘enough.’ Let’s take care of business.”
And they did.
The Saints surged ahead 23-21 before the Cougars buckled down and ran off four straight points. Junior Jordan Olerud served the last three points of the game to close it out.
Dropping the second set seemed to fatigue the Saints who hit for a negative percentage in the third set when the Cougars again jumped out to a big 13-4 lead and never looked back.
The Cougars, meanwhile, executed exceptionally well all night, hitting .349 for the match when .200 will usually suffice for a win. They were led on the front line by senior Malinda Prisinger and first year Allie Humphrey who recorded 10 kills a piece. Olerud had nine and first year Stephanie Schmiesing added eight.
Sophomore Natalie Thomas had 35 assists, leading the team, while Brita Humphrey and Thomas each had 10 digs.
The win improves the Cougars to 12-13, and 6-4 in conference. They are currently in fourth place in the UMAC, one game behind St. Scholastica, and two games behind Northland College who visits the PE Center tomorrow morning for an 11 a.m. match.
The Cougars finish their home season next Tuesday, hosting Presentation College.
Minnesota, Morris 3