The Falcons opened their home opener and own invitational by splitting a pair of matches at the Karges Center.  The Falcons fell to St. Thomas before bouncing back to defeat Gustavus.

Erin Green (Fridley, MN, Fridley) pounded out a season's best 19 kills as the Falcons fell 3-1 in a tough match against St. Thomas.  The loss snapped the Falcons' six-game winning streak. Game scores were 25-21, 25-20, 23-25 and 25-14.

Jean Theis (Shakopee, MN, Shakopee) added 13 kills, but the Falcons were plagued by too many attacking errors.  As a team, the Falcons hit .132 compared to St. Thomas who hit .336. Kelly Foley led St. Thomas with 19 kills.

Courtney Preiner (Oakdale, MN, Hill-Murray) led the Falcon defense with a season's best 20 digs and Mackenzie Suda (Ham Lake, MN, Blaine) added 42 set assists to pace the Falcons against a St. Thomas team that improved to 9-1 with the win over UWRF.

Despite losing the first set, the Falcons stormed back to win the next three sets for a 3-1 victory over Gustavus Adolphus College.  Games scores were 23-25, 25-21, 25-17 and 25-22.

Theis was on fire for the Falcons as she slammed a season's best 20 kills throughout the match.  She had an outstanding .562 kill percentage, converting 20 of 32 attempts.

Green added 15 kills and Brianna Muetzel (Oakdale, MN, Cretin-Derham Hall) 10, in a match where the Falcons pounded out 50 kills.  Suda added 43 set assists for those kills.

Preiner led the defense again with 18 digs.  As a team, the Falcons had nine blocks while limiting GAC to a mere .185 kill percentage.  The Falcons hit a much better .385.  Theis led UWRF with three ace blocks.

The Falcons will continue play at the UW-River Falls Invitational starting at noon on Saturday when they take on Waldorf College.  They will finish the invitational as they take on St. Scholastica at 4:30.

UWRF is now 9-2 on the season.

Photo Gallery

St. Thomas Box Score
Gustavus Box Score