MORRIS, Minn. – Senior setter
Megan Holz (Savage, Minn./Burnsville Senior) collected her fifth double-double of the season with 24 assists and 11 digs, but the UW-Superior volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision at Minnesota Morris in UMAC action on Saturday.
The Cougars improved to 8-8 overall and 4-1 in the UMAC, winning 25-22, 25-17, 25-15. UWS, which received at least seven kills apiece from three different players, fell to 5-12 overall and 3-2 in the league.
Minnesota Morris hit .243 as a team with 41 kills, while holding the Yellowjackets to an .056 efficiency with 27 kills and 21 errors in 108 attempts.
The Cougars led from start to finish in the first set, opening their largest lead of six points at 18-12. UWS scored three straight on kills by
Maiana Stark (Germantown, Wis./Germantown),
Alexie Pryd (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove Senior) and
Cassy Teff (Foley, Minn./Foley). A block from Jenna Howden and Kennedy Geller halted the spurt, igniting a 4-1 run for Morris.
Following a UWS timeout at 22-16, the 'Jackets scored five of the next six points, closing with a Kaylin Paultz kill, assisted by Holz, to cut the lead to 23-21. The Cougars won three points later with a Lydia Nash kill.
A Stark kill gave UWS a 6-5 lead in the second set before Morris tallied six of the next seven to take an 11-7 advantage. Morris extended the edge to 17-8 with another six consecutive and later took a 2-0 lead in the match on a block by Laura Wellbeck and Geller.
Pyrd opened the third set with a kill for the lead, but Morris responded with five straight points to take control. An Alyssa Ukestad ace and Nash kill lengthened the lead to 16-8. Howden made it 20-11 with a kill while Nash pushed it to a 23-12 edge with another swing.
Howden then sealed the match five points later with a kill for the Cougars.
Teff tallied nine kills, Pryd seven and Stark six to lead the Superior offense. Nash put down 13 kills and Wellbeck had 11 for Morris.
The Yellowjackets return to Mertz Mortorelli Gym Friday at 7 p.m. to face No. 15 Northwestern.
