10/21/06

Why do the end of the season matches seem to mean more even when everyone knows each match is just as important?

Knowing the stakes entering Saturday afternoon’s match-up in the Reif Center on St. Scholastica’s campus, the fourth place Saints and fifth place Cougars of Minnesota-Morris hit the floor with each hoping a win could help propel them into a better position to make the four-team post-season UMAC tournament.

On Saturday it was the Cougars who left the floor with their hopes nearly extinguished as the Saints beat Morris 3-0 for the second time this season.

Shawna Varichak and Amy Thompson of St. Scholastica tied with Morris’ Kirsten Neilson for the match lead in kills, each recording 12 in the three-game match. But it was the Saints’ defensive blocking at the net that may have been the deciding factor in the match.

The Saints registered 13.0 blocks in the match – their fifth best total on the season – while Morris picked up only two. Varichak and Erin Niles both had 3.5 blocks apiece while setter Kati Berscheit had a surprising 2.5 to help the Saints.

Berscheit also led the Saints in set assists with 35 and remains the conference’s top setter despite missing a match last Saturday due to an injury.

St. Scholastica (16-13, 7-4 UMAC) moved into at least a tie for third place with their Friday and Saturday wins and Friday evening’s Bethany Lutheran College (8-17, 6-4 UMAC) loss. Both teams have three conference matches remaining on their schedule but each has put some distance between themselves and fifth place Morris who fell to 10-19 and 4-7 after losing to the Saints.