PRESQUE ISLE, ME

The UMPI Women's Volleyball team took to the court on Saturday to take on the Husson Eagles. What neither team knew at the time is that they were about to play in a match that would become a candidate for NAC game of the year. The Owls took the first set while the Eagles answered in the second. That trend continued through the next two sets forcing the match to come down to a fifth and final set.  The Owls battled hard but ultimately fell in the closest possible margin, 16-14 in the first match, and battled hard in the second match but fell just shy again.

Match 1: (Husson 3-2)

Set 1: UMPI 25-23

Set 2: Husson 25-20

Set 3: UMPI 25-23

Set 4: Husson 25-23

Set 5: Husson 16-14

As the scores reflect, the match could not have been closer. The teams were as evenly matched as can be the entire time. Neither team led by more than seven points for the entire match, and it was UMPI who led 21-14 in the first set. After that it was essentially neck and neck the entire match. For more details you can read the play by play here. The tension in Wieden Gymnasium was palpable. Both teams fought hard to the bitter end, and it was never clear who had control until the last whistle sounded.

Top Performers:

The Owls had many heroes in this match, with several players rising to the occasion and making plays. Alexis Engel and Faith Graham led the way with their 18 kills each. Engel also contributed 17 digs, playing well on both sides of the ball. Likewise, Graham contributed two blocks. Mia Guttierez and Evelyn Elijah each had three aces. Rylie Kolkow again paced the offense with her 33 assists. Kylee Blazick led UMPI with 28 digs, while Guttierez had 20 herself as well.

Match 2: (Husson 3-1)

The close trend continued into the second match as it proved to once again be anybody's match. Neither set all day was decided by more than five points, but Husson ended up being the victors of the final three in match two despite UMPI coming up just short of forcing another fifth set, falling 25-23.

Set 1: UMPI 25-21

Set 2: Husson 25-20

Set 3: Husson 25-20

Set 4: Husson 25-23

Top Performers:

Faith Graham led in kills again with 11, while Mia Guttierez added eight. Alexis Engel had three aces, and 17 digs to her name. Rylie Kolkow had 23 assists, while Kylee Blazick led the team with 24 digs, with Guttierez just behind her with 23.

Despite heroic individual performances and a team that showed absolutely no quit, the Owls went away winless on the day falling to 9-15 overall and 3-5 in conference play. They will now await their seeding and matchup for the North Atlantic Conference playoffs set to take place next weekend.