ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn - North Central University volleyball fell in three close sets to Crown College on Friday night in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play. Crown College took all three sets by scores of 25-21, 26-24, 25-22.

All three sets were tightly contested, with the second set being the most competitive as it took extra points to settle the outcome. In the second set with the score knotted up at 20-20 two straight kills by Crown gave them a 22-20 lead. The Rams responded with a kill from Emma Middendorf followed by a block from Katie Strand tied the set up at 22-22. Two attacking errors from Crown gave the Rams a 24-23 lead heading into a timeout called by Crown. After the timeout an attacking error from the Rams gave Crown a point and service. Elle Baker served an ace for Crown to take a 25-24 lead. A kill from Sarah Reinke sealed the set for Crown after a hard fight from the Rams.

The third set would prove to be another tightly contested set. Late in the third, a kill from senior Ashley Kelzer would pull the Rams closer as they trailed 22-20. Two kills from senior Katie Strand would keep the Rams on pace as they trailed 23-22. Two consecutive kills from Crown would seal the match despite the great showing from the Rams in this UMAC matchup.

NCU was led by senior Katie Strand who recorded 10 kills. Emma Middendorf added 9 kills. Sophomore Bethany Wollman added 7 kills to support the two middle blockers in Strand and Middendorf.

Maddie Stocker played exceptionally well in the back row as she recorded a season high 33 digs for NCU to pace the Rams defensive effort.

NCU will be back in action tomorrow in Clark Danielson Gymnasium in a non-conference Triangular in downtown Minneapolis. NCU will take on Macalester College at 11:00 a.m. and Emmaus Bible College at 3:00 p.m. Emmaus and Macalester will play at 1:00 p.m. Live video and live statistics will be made available for all three matches.