MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.-- North Central University Volleyball dropped a pair of conference matches over the weekend but wrapped up a series of three matches over two days with a victory. Friday night the Rams lost to Bethany Lutheran College before falling to Martin Luther College on Saturday afternoon. But NCU responded by knocking off Finlandia University in the third match of their Parents Day Triangular.

Friday evening North Central (5-10, 1-5 UMAC) hosted Bethany Lutheran for an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference match-up. The Rams kept within reach in all three sets but fell 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-19). Sophomore Karlee Huber (Rapid City, S.D./Dakota Wesleyan) led the Rams attack with 11 kills along with 15 digs while sophomore Elissa Pheneger (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) added 22 assists.

Saturday the Rams opened up their Parents Day Triangular event with a match versus Martin Luther College (New Ulm, Minn.) in another UMAC game. NCU hung close in the first set but eventually fell 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-11). Karlee Huber again led the Rams with 6 kills while Elissa Pheneger had a team high 10 digs along with 20 assists. Junior Karlee Cox (Des Moines, Iowa/Saydel) added 5 kills while junior Whitney Reames (Vassar, Mich./Vassar) recorded 9 digs.

After losing a pair of games in less than 24 hours the Rams were able to gather themselves and earn a win in a hard fought match by a 3-1 final over Finlandia University (Hancock, Mich.). In a very tight match, one of the most crucial moments came early. The Rams trailed late in the first set by a 21-19 difference but they used an 6-2 run to climb in front and eventually take a 25-23 set win. The Lions used extra points to take the second set 26-24 but NCU jumped out in the third to take a 14-7 lead that would be come a 25-17 third set win. 

In the fourth set another moment of character earned the Rams a victory. The Lions lead 21-17 and looked to force a fifth and decisive set. After a timeout, North Central ripped off an 8-1 run that included three kills from Karlee Huber and match clinching ace from freshman Maddie Saice (Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley) to take the set 25-22. 

Huber was the leader offensively in the win over Finlandia with 15 kills along with 17 digs. Sophomore Sarah Mattes (Rice Lake, Wis/UW-Barron County) added 7 kills while Karlee Cox put down 4 kills, a block solo and two block assists. Elissa Pheneger produced 31 assists and Whitney Reames recorded a team high 18 digs. Maddie Saice scored a match high 5 service aces.

The Rams will be back in action next Friday when they host The College of St. Scholastica (Duluth, Minn.) in a conference match at 7 p.m. Saturday NCU hosts Northland College (Ashland, Wis.) at 1 p.m. before traveling across town to play at The University of Northwestern (St. Paul, Minn.) at 6 p.m.

During the weekend trio of matches Elissa Phenger is looking to take her place in Rams history. The sophomore will come into the weekend with 971 career assists and at her current pace (7.47 assists/set) will become just the fifth player in school history to break the 1,000 career assist barrier. She will be the second fastest player in Rams history to get to that mark.