MORRIS, Minn. – No. 21 University of Northwestern (7-4, 2-0 UMAC) opened Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play with two straight-set wins over Minnesota Morris and Northland College on Saturday. The Eagles are 37-15 in all-time records vs. Morris, with their most recent loss coming in 2015. Northwestern leads the all-time series with Northland, 51-17 and hasn't fallen to the Lumberjills since 1997.  
 
Northwestern 3, Minnesota Morris 0
Set Scores: 25-22, 25-22, 25-23
 
The Eagles got off to a quick start, leading by seven (10-3) sparked by a pair of aces from Freya Hanson (Otsego, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville) and three Jenay Fuglestad (Maple Grove, Minn./Heritage Christian) kills. The Cougars of Morris fought back, winning 15 of the next 18 points to take an 18-13 lead mid-set. A pair of Mariah Halvorsen (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) and Jenay Fuglestad (Maple Grove, Minn./Heritage Christian) kills helped the Eagles regain momentum, fighting their way to a 25-22 first set win.
 
The Eagles displayed resiliency once again in set two, when they fought their way back from another 18-13 deficit to win five of the final six points and secure a set two victory.
 
With a 2-0 lead, the Eagles held on in a back-and-forth set three – securing the sweep on an Anna Gasch (Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock) kill to close out the set, 25-23.
 
Halvorsen led the Eagles offense with 16 kills, hitting .297. Fuglestad added 12 kills (.360) and two blocks, while Kalley Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./Central Minnesota Christian) tallied 11 kills and 11 digs – her second double-double this season.
 
Defensively, Freya Hanson (Otsego, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville) led the way with 14 digs and freshman defensive player, Peyton Wright (Littleton, Colo./Parker) added 10. Sydney Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./MACCRAY) dished out 41 assists in the three-setter.
 
The Cougars move to 5-7 overall, 1-1 in conference play following Saturday action.
 
UNW 3, Northland 0 (25-8, 25-13, 25-11)
 
Northwestern took down the Lumberjills in a quick three-set contest to close out UMAC opening day. Jenay Fuglestad (Maple Grove, Minn./Heritage Christian) led the attack for the Eagles, tacking on 10 kills in the match as Peyton Wright (Littleton, Colo./Parker) and Jackie Timm (Iowa Falls, Iowa/Iowa Falls) each added seven. Northwestern hit an impressive .408 as a team.
 
In addition to Wright's seven kills, she also tacked on an incredible seven aces (tying her for 5^th in all-time match highs) and added seven digs.
 
Kaelyn Kilbo (Delano, Minn./Delano) dished out 12 assists in the match. Freya Hanson (Otsego, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville) led the way defensibility, digging up 18 balls.
 
The Lumberjills fall to 1-10 overall, 0-2 in UMAC action.
 
The Eagles will return to action on Tuesday, September 18^th as they travel to St. Bonifacius for UMAC triangular play against Crown College and North Central University. First serves are scheduled for 5 and 7 p.m.
 
Make sure to follow the Eagles online this season at www.unweagles.com or on Twitter and Instagram at @unwvb.