MOUNT VERNON, Iowa - The University of Dubuque women's volleyball once again hit the road for an early non-conference test against nationally ranked #24 Cornell College Rams. The Spartans were set out for the challenge as they took the first set from the Rams but were unable to secure another set win, falling 3-1. 

In the opening set, the Spartans jumped out to a 6-3 advantage but the Rams quickly erased the deficit as an 8-1 run gave the Rams an 11-7 lead forcing Coach Elsbernd into a timeout. The Spartans continued to battle with kills from Emma Powell, Payton Uptagraft, and Alexis Adkins but the Rams extended their largest lead of the set to seven (21-14). After another timeout, the Spartans regrouped firing off a 7-1 run to cut within one point, trailing 23-22. Down to the match point for Cornell, Uptagraft sent a towering kill over the net tying the game at 24-24. The next few possessions both teams traded points still sitting at 27-27. After a service error by the Rams, Powell capped off the first set hammering down her ninth kill of the set as the Spartans won 29-27.  

Cornell quickly grabbed a lead in the second set but the Spartans stayed the course and only trailed by one point 21-20. The Rams rattled off four straight points including two services aces to even the match at 1-1. Cornell would proceed to take sets three (25-16) and four (25-17) as they out hit the Spartans to capture the match win. 

Offensively, on the attack, the Spartans were led by Powell who posted a 26.5% hitting percentage and recorded 23 kills on the night. A trio of Spartans, Ashlee Adler, Uptagraft, and Alexis Bedier combined for 27 kills. Setters, Ashlyn McGinnis dished out 34 assists while Alexis Kammerer tallied 15. 

Up Next
The Spartans will head north to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin this weekend for a Quad Tournament at Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC). The Spartans will play one game on Friday night, against WLC at 6:00 p.m. and then two more games Saturday.