10/13/06

Despite losing not one, but two players to injuries during the match, the Saints pulled off the upset of Bethany Lutheran College on their home court in Mankato, Minnesota, Friday evening.

Down 2-1 after three games -- and heading into the fourth without Rebecca Udermann and league-leading setter Katie Berscheit who were both victims of injuries in the third game -- the Saints found the magic that they'd displayed often through long matches earlier in the season, coming back with successive wins in the fourth and fifth games to grab an unlikely victory from the UMAC's second place Vikings.

It was their fourth win against three losses in five-game matches this season, a marked improvement over their zero for three record a year ago.

Both LeAnn Berscheit (14) and Amy Thompson (12) reached double-digits in kills for the match to lead the Saints offensively Friday night.

Right Side hitter Alissa Johnson slid into Udermann's role, rotating into the back line for defense and serve receive instead of subbing out, and helped the Saints with six digs and a .913 reception percentage in 23 service attempts. In the front row, Erin Niles joined the rotation in Udermann's spot and answered with six kills and 3.0 blocks.

With Katie Berscheit on the bench, Megan Baartman stepped into the setter's spot in the rotation and produced 23 set assists.

The extent of Udermann's and Katie Berscheit's injuries are undisclosed at this point.