UMAC Game of the Week - Martin Luther at Minnesota Morris- Volleyball
UMAC Game of the Week Archives
ST. PAUL -- The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Game of the Week is a feature that takes place each week throughout the conference portion of the season with one contest being selected and highlighted as the UMAC Game of the Week.
The week's UMAC Game of the Week will take place on Saturday, September 21 as Martin Luther College travels to face the University of Minnesota Morris in UMAC volleyball action. The battle between the two teams who were picked to finish second and third in the preseason poll will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday as both teams look to finish the first weekend of play at the top of the UMAC standings. Morris received 40 votes in the Preseason Coaches' Poll while Martin Luther finished just three points behind with 37.
About the Knights
The Knights finished the early portion of the non-conference schedule 6-6, but are coming off a 3-1 weekend at UW-Oshkosh they hope can springboard them into the conference season. MLC has relied on the hitting of Rebecca Engelbrecht in the early part of the season. The senior outside hitter is averaging 3.79 kills and 10.6 attacks per set so far this season, helping her win two UMAC Offensive Player of the Week awards. The Knights’ middle hitting duo of Heather Danell and Leah Nass came on last weekend at UW-Oshkosh. Danell averaged 1.18 blocks and 2.12 kills per set while hitting .385 over the four match tournament, while Nass hit .312 on the way to 2.65 kills per set. They lead a defensive effort that is helped by the play of Alex Anthon, who has performed well at the libero position after two seasons of playing time at outside hitter and as a back row specialist.
About the Cougars
The Cougars also finished the non-conference portion their schedule 6-6 overall and look finish the 2013 season in the hunt for the UMAC title. Minnesota Morris has been led offensively by the firepower of Emily Auch and Abby Tietz so far in 2013. The two have combined for 262 kills this season and rank second and third in the UMAC in kills. The rest of the team has combined for 312 kills. Adding to the strength of the Cougar line-up is 2012 Co-Defensive Player of the Year Kaylie Clark. Clark currently leads the UMAC averaging 5.19 digs per set so far this season.
Game Notes
- Martin Luther and Minnesota Morris will meet for the 20
th time since 2001 on Saturday. The Knights hold the 12-7 lead during that time.
- These two programs have split the last eight meetings over the last four seasons, with four of those matches going five sets.
- Morris will look for the first 2-0 in UMAC play in school history with a pair of wins this weekend.
- Martin Luther senior outside hitter Rebecca Engelbrecht has jumped from seventh to third in the school record books for career kills so far this season. She became the fourth MLC player to record 1,000 career kills earlier this season, and also ranks fourth in the school’s record books in career attacks
- Minnesota Morris has outhit their opponent in all but two matches this season.
- MLC sophomore setter Miranda Maasz became the third MLC player to reach 2,000 assists for her career earlier this season. She entered the season with 1896 career assists, third most in school history, but has moved into second place with 2340 for her career.
- The Cougars are 0-3 in five set matches this year.
- MLC has come from behind to win two matches in which it trailed 0-2 so far this season.
Martin Luther Recap |
Minnesota Morris Recap |
#UMACgotw |
Final Score: UMM 3, MLC 0
For information on other contests around the league this week, visit the UMAC's
live scoreboard.