Minneapolis, MN – North Central University (NCU) Volleyball returned to Clark-Danielson Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon for a conference matchup with Bethany Lutheran College (BLC). The Rams entered the contest hungry for their first conference victory of the season. Last fall, the two programs split their UMAC series, setting the stage for another competitive meeting on North Central's home court. Despite steady moments throughout the afternoon, NCU came up short in three sets.

Set 1: 25-11 | Set 2: 25-11 | Set 3: 25-17

North Central opened the afternoon battling point for point through the first rotation before Bethany's attack found a rhythm midway through the set. Senior middle hitter Lexie Semrau and sophomore right-side Gabbie Ruzek got NCU on the board early with back-to-back kills, while setter Abby Rhoades distributed well from the front row. The Rams kept the energy high defensively, led by senior libero Maci Tripp, who covered the backcourt with several key digs. However, unforced errors on the attack (8 in the set) made it difficult for NCU to sustain long rallies, allowing the visitors to pull away late for the 25-11 decision.

The Rams showed improved composure and ball control in the second frame. Freshman setter Tatum Olson and senior Maggie Kohl combined for a strong block at the net that sparked an early 4-1 run, and a service ace from Brianna Brown brought the crowd to life. NCU traded points for much of the set, cutting the deficit to 15-13 behind kills from Ruzek and Semrau. Tripp anchored the defense again with multiple diving saves, but late service errors stalled the Rams' momentum as Bethany finished the set on a 10-2 run to take a 2-0 lead.

In the final set, North Central's offense found its best rhythm of the night. Ruzek tallied three kills in the opening stretch, while Kohl added two of her own to keep the Rams within striking distance. Rhoades recorded several assists and chipped in defensively with 7 digs overall, while Kaczmarek contributed a block assist on a key rally midway through the set. Despite strong passing and extended rallies, the Rams couldn't overcome a late scoring surge from the visitors, who closed out the match 25-17.

Looking Ahead:

Next week, the Rams will remain at home to take on Crown College on Friday, October 24th, with first serve scheduled for 7:00 PM at the Clark-Danielson Gymnasium.

As always, all fans are encouraged to tune into the official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (X) pages for updates on Rams Volleyball and all things NCU Athletics.