Minneapolis-- The North Central University Volleyball team won their first Upper Midwest Athletic Conference game of the season on Tuesday night as they defeated Northland College (Ashland, Wisc.) in Minneapolis.

After falling behind two sets to one, the Rams (10-14, 1-4) used a hitting percentage of .280 in the fourth set and .214 in the fifth set to prevail 3-2 (20-25, 25-19, 19-25, 25-17, 15-9).

In the decisive fifth set, the Rams and LumberJills (4-14, 0-5) battled back-and-forth before North Central was able to score the final four points of the match to win the fifth set 15-9. NCU used kills from Ashley Kelzer (Mayer, Minn./Watertown-Mayer) and Karlee Cox (Des Moines, Iowa/Saydel), along with attacking errors from Northland to finish out the victory.

North Central used a balanced offensive attack as five different Rams tallied six or more kills in the match. NCU was led by Anna Larson (Lakeville, Minn./Christian Life), who posted her second double-double of the season with 10 kills and 17 digs. 

Kelzer also recorded 10 kills in the win to go along with nine digs and two service aces. Cox had six kills in the match and also was strong defensively with a game-high five block assists. The Rams totaled 9 blocks in the match, which is a season-high for the team.

Maddie Saice (Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley) and Katie Strand (Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo) each recorded six kills, as the Rams offensive attack was anchored by 30 assists from Elissa Pheneger (Roseville, Minn/Concordia Academy). Pheneger currently ranks fourth in the UMAC with 7.88 assists per set.

North Central's defensive effort was just as solid as Whitney Reames (Vassar, Mich./Vassar) posted a team-high 19 digs and Bethaney Sjoquist (Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley) had a career-high 18 digs. 

The Rams played without outside hitter Karlee Huber (Rapid City, S.D./Dakota Wesleyan Univ.), who ranks seventh in the UMAC with 233 kills. Huber is currently nursing a foot injury that could keep her out until the NCCAA Regional tournament next Friday.

North Central continues action this Saturday as they travel to Morris, Minnesota to compete in the Morris Triangular. The Rams will tip-off at 1 p.m. against the Cougars of The University of Minnesota Morris and then play again shortly after against Waldorf College (Forest City, Iowa).