MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Rams Volleyball team was in action Friday night to kickoff homecoming festivities in downtown Minneapolis. NCU fell to the defending conference champions, Northwestern-St.Paul in three sets (25-11, 25-11, 25-7).

UNW (17-3, 9-0) got off to a fast start, jumping out to an early 11-3 lead after a service ace from the 2016 national player of the year in the NCAA Division III in Lindsay Peterson. Consecutive kills from Bekah Johnson and Katie Strand, alongside a service ace from Maddie stocker pulled the Rams within five points at 13-8. The Eagles got on a run to seal the first set at 25-11.

In the second set the Eagles continued the momentum quickly building a lead at 16-6. Returning all conference players, Leesa Malone and Lindsay Peterson both added kills to extend to the Eagles lead to 22-8 which proved to be enough to seal the set and give the Eagles a 2-0 lead. The Eagles continued their aggressive attack in the third set to remain unbeaten in UMAC play (9-0). Peterson recorded 12 kills and 7 digs to pace the Eagles.

The Rams were led by senior Katie Strand who recorded  kills and one dig. Maddie Stocker recorded 9 of the team's 28 dig to go along with one service ace.

NCU will be back in action at home on Tuesday, October 3rd at 7:00 p.m. as the Rams take on Martin Luther College in a UMAC match in Clark Danielson Gymnasium in downtown Minneapolis.