Minneapolis, MN — The North Central University Rams returned to their home court on Saturday to face the University of Minnesota Morris Cougars. The Rams battled throughout the match, including a close third set, but ultimately fell to the Cougars in three sets, 19-25, 12-25, and 26-28.
Set 1: 19-25
The Rams opened the match looking to establish momentum and defend their home court. The Rams start strong with a kill from Autumn Kaczmarek. NCU battled to keep pace with the Cougars but Morris pulled ahead with an early lead. Staying competitive, NCU fights with three kills from Gabby Ruzek. However, Morris maintained its advantage to take the opening set, 25-19.
Set 2: 12-25
Looking to respond, the Rams returned to the court determined to shift the momentum. Despite their efforts, Morris continued to apply pressure and capitalize on scoring opportunities by having a 10-1 lead. However, the Rams were not done fighting Abby Rhoades with a fire at the serving line with an ace. The Cougars took the second set, 25-12, putting NCU in a challenging position heading into the third.
Set 3: 26-28
The Rams came out ready to fight back, delivering their strongest push of the match in a tightly contested third set. Tatum Olson comes out strong with a kill. NCU battled point for point with the Cougars with a comeback down 23-17 to 23-22. The Rams conintued to battle with Gabbie Ruzek having several kills in a row. Despite the Rams' determination to force a fourth set, Morris edged ahead to secure the final set, 28-26, completing the three-set sweep.
Game Highlights:
Despite the loss, the Rams continued to compete and showed resilience, particularly in the third set.
Team Leaders
The Rams ended the game with 30 kills, 2 aces, 27 assists, and 56 digs. NCU will look to build on that effort as the team prepares for its next matchup.
Next Up: The Rams will prepare for their home next contest on Friday October 30th at 7PM.
