Minneapolis, Minn.-- The North Central University Volleyball team ended a busy weekend at the NCU Invite with a win against Trinity Bible College and and a loss to Emmaus Bible College.

In game one, the Rams used 44 kills and a hitting percentage of .099 to pull out a gritty win against the Lions of Trinity Bible College (Ellendale, N.D.). NCU won by a score of 3-1 (25-19, 10-25, 31-29, 28-26).

The versatility of junior Karlee Huber (Rapid City, S.D./Dakota Wesleyan Univ.) proved to be a difference maker for the Rams, as she recorded a game-high 18 kills to go along with 12 digs in the victory. Huber's strong performance was nicely complemented by 11 kills from sophomore Ashley Kelzer (Mayer, Minn./Watertown-Mayer).

Junior Elissa Pheneger (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) had a team-high 36 assists in the match as she constantly sacrificed her body to the ground in pursuit of 11 digs. Her defensive energy was topped by senior Whitney Reames (Vassar, Mich./Vassar), who had a team-high 20 digs.

In game two, the Rams (3-8) could not take advantage of a third set hitting percentage of .351 as they fell to the Eagles of Emmaus Bible College (Dubuque, Iowa) 3-1 (17-25, 16-25, 25-16, 20-25).

Huber had an attack line of 19 kills, 5 errors, and 40 total attacks to record a season-high hitting percentage of .350. Sophomore Katie Strand (Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo) recorded 11 kills of her own in the loss.

Pheneger finished the match with 35 assists and 20 digs as she continues to establish herself as one of the best setters in the National Christian College Athletic Association.

The Rams continue play this Friday as they begin their Upper Midwest Athletic Conference schedule. Their first conference opponent is Crown College (St. Bonifacius, Minn.); the match tips-off at 7 p.m. in Mankato, Minn.