Moorhead, MN -- Saturday, the North Central University (NCU) Volleyball team made their first road trip of the 2025 season, taking part in the Concordia Triangular hosted by Concordia College-Moorhead. The Rams faced two challenging non-conference matchups against the University of Wisconsin-Stout (UWS) Blue Devils and Concordia College-Moorhead (CCM) Cobbers. Despite strong efforts and bright individual performances, NCU was unable to come away with a victory, dropping both matches in straight sets.

Game One Recap:

Set 1: 25-11 | Set 2: 25-19 | Set 3: 25-14

NCU opened the day against a sharp UW-Stout squad. The Rams struggled to get their offense going early, committing eight attack errors and finishing the set with a -.083 hitting percentage. Defensive efforts from senior libero Maci Tripp (16 digs) helped keep rallies alive, but the Blue Devils' efficient offense overpowered the Rams, handing them a 25-11 loss in the opening frame.

The Rams showed more cohesion in the second set, with senior Lexie Semrau (5 kills) and freshman Maia Scheffler (8 digs) making key plays. Freshman setter Tatum Olson tallied 8 assists, but the team couldn't overcome 10 attack errors and 2 service errors. A brief run brought the Rams within striking distance, but they ultimately dropped the set 25-19.

In the third set, sophomore Brianna Brown added 2 kills, and freshman Abby Rhoades chipped in a kill and 9 digs. Still, the Rams were again plagued by attack errors and a low hitting percentage (-.083), dropping the final set 25-14 to fall 3-0 in the match.

Game Two Recap: 

Set 1: 25-14 | Set 2: 25-19 | Set 3: 25-13

In their second match of the day, NCU faced the host team and once again found themselves trailing early. The Rams recorded just 4 kills compared to 10 attack errors in the set, finishing with a hitting percentage of -.214. Despite solid serve receive work from Maci Tripp (13 digs), the Rams dropped the set 25-14.

The Rams responded with more energy in the second set. Senior Maggie Kohl and freshman Maizy Sundblad each contributed 3 kills, while Tatum Olson and Abby Rhoades added 7 assists apiece. Although the Rams tightened up their attack, their opponent's efficiency at the net (15 kills, .205 hitting) proved too much to overcome in a 25-19 defeat.

In the final set, North Central again made a strong effort. Sundblad led with 5 kills, and Olson continued her consistent offensive playmaking. However, a -.071 hitting percentage and a handful of untimely errors halted any comeback attempts. Concordia sealed the match with a 25-13 set win.

Looking Ahead:

Up next, NCU hits the road once more for another tournament as they will compete in the Faith Baptist Volleyball Classic in Ankeny, IA. The Rams will play 4 total games, starting with matchups against Randall University and Crown College next Friday, September 19th. 

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.