For the second time in two nights the cougar volleyball team returned the favor on a team that had beaten them earlier this season. Today at the PE Center it was the visiting Lumberjills of Northland College who fell in four sets (25, 9, 19, 12).
The win capped a weekend for the Cougars that not only secured two wins and moved them closer to a playoff birth, but also marked the emergence of a more clutch and finely executing team. Whereas UMM had struggled to win tough points and attack with consistency earlier in the year, they did both of these things very well against Northland, and on Friday night against St. Scholastica.
By and large, the Cougars kept the Lumberjills off balance much of the game with their serving.
After dropping the first set 25-19, the Cougars bolted out in the second. Four service aces from sophomore Natalie Thomas sparked a 10-0 run from which Northland never recovered. Thomas’ serves—and later serves from sophomore Jen Bissel and first year Allie Humphrey—seemed to upset the Lumberjills as they struggled to set returns and attacks. UMM took the second set 25-9.
The teams exchanged rally points in the third set until the 12-point mark when Thomas came on serve again. Another service ace from Thomas, two Norhtland errors, and kills from junior Jordan Olerud and Humphrey gave the Cougars a five point cushion that they maintained for the rest of the game.
Humphrey came on serve in the fourth set with the Cougars trailing 11-10. When she finished her run, the Cougars suddenly led 19-11. The nine point run was highlighted by two more kills from Olerud (who finished the game with a team and season-high 16) and three from junior Megan Theis. Thomas served out the set and match, picking up another service ace (for a team-high seven), as the Cougars prevailed 25-12.
According to Bissel, the Cougars’ success on serve came from old-fashioned practice: “It’s just working on serving certain positions and putting them out of system,” she said after the match.
In addition to her 16 kills, Olerud had 14 digs for the match, along with 14 from first year Brita Humphrey playing libero.
The win improves the Cougars to .500 on the year at 13-13 (a remarkable 9-1 at home), but more importantly 7-4 in conference, one step closer to the UMAC tournament. A win Tuesday night at home against Presentation would secure the spot with one road trip to follow next weekend.
The Cougars’ home finale is Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in the PE Center.
Minnesota, Morris 3