Box Score Box Score
MORRIS, Minn. – Northwestern College was hardly at full strength on Friday night as the Eagles lost their first Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) match of the year to the University of Minnesota Morris by a 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-20) score. NWC entered the match at significantly less than 100 percent as the Eagles missed their kills leader in
Kendra Korporal (Sumner, Iowa /Sumner-Fredericksburg) while other key players battled through their own illness and injury bugs. Just seven points separated the two teams throughout the course of the four sets.
Northwestern posted one less kill than the Cougars while matching the home team in digs and owning an advantage in total digs. The biggest number on the match's score sheet was the Eagles' 28 attacking errors.
The Purple and Gold took off from a 12-12 tie in the first set, winning eight of the next 10 points to lead 20-14 before claiming a 25-21 set victory. Down 20-17 in the second set, NWC tied the score at 21, 22 and 23 before the Cougars won the final two points on Eagles attacking errors. The third set was a very similar story for Northwestern, who allowed Morris to pull away with three straight miss-hits. NWC played from behind throughout the entire fourth set and the match host beat the Eagles to 25 to earn their fourth UMAC win of the 2012 season.
Lizzy Potratz (Oshkosh, Wis./Valley Christian ) led Northwestern with 14 kills, with
Courtney Jonas (Neenah, Wis./Valley Christian) and
Tija Rudzitis (Andover, Minn./Meadow Creek Christian ) close behind at 11 kills apiece. Rudzitis's success on offense at the net came on 14 attempts to give the senior a .643 hitting rate.
Krista Stoltz (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) had 46 assists on the night, leading the Eagles to a .169 attacking percentage.
On defense,
Katelyn Kostek (Des Moines, Iowa/Des Moines Christian) had a Northwestern-high 13 digs. Jonas played an important role on defense, getting her hands on six blocks. Rudzitis added four blocks from her middle blocker position.
For Minnesota Morris, Emily Auch led the Cougars with 13 kills. Kaylie Clark had a match-high 20 digs for the home team.
At 14-8 overall, Northwestern will head into Saturday's match at Crown College in a tie for first place in the conference standings with a 5-1 UMAC record. The Eagles will wrap up their weekend with an 11 a.m. match in St. Bonifacius against the Storm.
