MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The North Central University (NCU) volleyball team took a break from conference play on Tuesday night and embarked on a short road trip across the Twin Cities, where they clashed with the MIAC-affiliated Hamline University (HU) Pipers in a non-conference matchup. In a contest that saw HU lead the way each set, the Pipers bested the Rams and came away with the victory in three total sets (21-25, 15-25, 12-25).

Game Recap

The first set was the highlight for the Rams on the night, as the blue and gold managed to go point-for-point with the Pipers through the first 20 rallies. With the score knotted up at 17 all, North Central jumped out to an 18 to 17 lead on an attack error by HU. From there, the Pipers managed to go on a short four-point run that allowed HU to take the lead back. After a kill by Jaselyn Anderson (Farmington, MN, Christian Life Academy) the Rams pulled within two, but were unable to come back down the stretch and ultimately fell 21 to 25.

The second set also saw North Central battling with Hamline through the first half of the set. Sophomore libero Hallie Fuglestad (Maple Grove, MN, Maple Grove Senior High School) recorded a service ace that gave the Rams a seven to six lead over the Pipers. In the latter half of the set, HU managed to string together multiple runs to increase their lead and come away by a score of 15 to 25. Despite the end result, the Rams showcased a steady attack that allowed them to stay within striking distance the majority of the set.

Hamline came out with the points in the first few rallies of the third set, building a three-point lead. After the early deficit, North Central responded well and came back firing on all cylinders offensively, stringing together their best run of the night and taking hold of a commanding seven to four lead. Over the rest of the set, the Pipers put together a few runs that allowed them to build their lead and come away with the last set of the night 12 to 25.

Key Performers

• Makayla Krohnberg (Blaine, MN, Blaine High School) collected 18 kills and an ace at the service line.
• Middle blocker Emily DiGiorgio (Ironwood, MI, Luther L. Wright High School) led the charge offensively with eight kills for the Rams.

Looking Ahead

Now sitting at a 2-6 overall record (0-4 UMAC), North Central volleyball will continue their stint on the road as they travel up north on Saturday afternoon to take on the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets (UWS) in their fifth conference matchup of the year. Fans are encouraged to stay posted across official NCU Rams social media (Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter) and ncurams.com for the latest news surrounding NCU volleyball and upcoming game information, such as live video and live statistics.