MORRIS, Minn. — The NCU Rams continued their busy stretch on the road Saturday afternoon, traveling to Morris to take on the University of Minnesota Morris Cougars. Entering the match with a 4-6 record, the Rams looked to close out a demanding week of competition with a strong performance. NCU brought energy and determination to the court from the opening serve, battling the Cougars throughout all three sets. Despite a hard-fought effort, the Rams ultimately fell to Morris, 0-3 (18-25, 19-25, 17-25).
Set 1 | 18-25
The Rams came out firing in the opening set, with Allina Mendoza recording an ace to immediately spark momentum for NCU. Gabbie Ruzek followed with an early kill as the Rams looked to establish their offense and set the tone for the match.
Morris responded with a scoring run, building a 14-9 advantage midway through the set. The Rams continued to battle and worked to chip away at the deficit, but the Cougars maintained their momentum and closed out the opening set, 25-18.
Set 2 | 19-25
NCU returned to the court with renewed energy in the second set. Ruzek opened the frame with back-to-back kills, helping the Rams establish an early rhythm. NCU maintained a narrow advantage through the opening portion of the set, refusing to let the Cougars pull away.
The two teams battled point-for-point, eventually reaching a 13-13 tie. With the set hanging in the balance, Morris found another scoring run and began to create separation. The Rams continued to push and fight for every point, but the Cougars ultimately claimed the second set, 25-19, taking a 2-0 lead in the match.
Set 3 | 17-25
With their backs against the wall, the Rams opened the third set trailing 0-3. Rather than backing down, NCU responded with a strong push of its own. Abby Rhoades delivered a key kill before Autumn Kaczmarek added an ace to help the Rams battle back and even the score at 8-8.
The Cougars answered with another scoring run, creating a six-point advantage. NCU continued to battle, with kills from Alexis Alms and Ruzek helping keep the Rams within striking distance.
Despite the deficit, NCU continued to fight through the final points. Morris ultimately closed out the third set, 25-17, securing the 3-0 victory.
Highlights
The Rams continued to see strong individual performances throughout the match:
As a team, NCU recorded a .041 hitting percentage, 27 kills, 5 aces, and 25 assists.
Although the Rams were unable to come away with the victory, NCU continued to show resilience and fight throughout the three-set battle. The Rams will look to carry that determination into their next matchup as they continue their season on the road.
Up Next
The Rams will hit the road once again on Friday, October 16, traveling to face Bethany Lutheran College. First serve is set for 7:00 PM.
