Minneapolis, Minn.-- The North Central University Volleyball team was put to the test Saturday as they faced the conferences top two teams at Clark-Danielson Gymnasium.

The Rams (3-9, 0-3) started off the day against the University of Minnesota-Morris (Morris, Minn.). The Cougars (9-5, 1-1) lost Friday in five sets to the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference's best team, the University of Northwestern-Saint Paul (St. Paul, Minn.)

The Cougars overpowered the Rams as they finished 38 kills to the Rams 16 en route to a 3-0 victory (25-13, 25-10, 25-15). 

North Central was led by sophomore Elissa Pheneger (Roseville, Minn / Concordia Academy) who recorded a team-high 14 assists, while adding six digs. Pheneger entered the day as the third ranked setter in the conference, averaging 7.66 assists per set.

Sophomore Karlee Huber (Rapid City, S.D./ Dakota Wesleyan Univ.) led the team with ten digs to go along with five kills in the loss. Freshman Sarah Hundeby (Elbow, Saskatchewan/ Caronport) led the Rams with five kills.

In match number two, the Rams took on the Eagles from Northwestern (8-6, 3-0) and lost the match, 3-0 (25-13, 25-10, 25-8). 

Pheneger once again added 14 assists in the loss to go along with four digs and a kill. Hundeby led North Central again in kills with seven; while sophomore Sarah Mattes (Rice Lake, Wis. / UW-Barron County) added four kills and a block assist to stabilize the Rams frontline attack.

For the first two sets, NCU made the most of their opportunites; recording 16 kills to 11 errors. But that success couldn't carry over to the third set as the Rams had six errors while only recording three kills.

North Central continues action next Friday as they tavel to Duluth, Minn. to take on the Saints of St. Scholastica College. Play begins at 7p.m. for the Rams.