Minneapolis, MN - Polars fall in five-set battle in NCCAA Regional Semifinal
For the third time this season, the Rams and Polars faced off on the volleyball court, twice during the UMAC regular season and once more in NCCAA postseason play. The teams had split their earlier match ups, with Crown sweeping North Central at home before the Rams answered with a thrilling five-set victory. With that history, everyone knew this semifinal clash was bound to be intense. The opening set lived up to expectations, as both sides traded points until the Rams narrowly pulled ahead for a 25–23 win, taking the early advantage on their home court. Crown responded with authority, dominating the second set 25–12 and carrying that momentum into a 25–21 win in the third. But the Rams, energized by their home crowd, rallied in the fourth set to even the match with a 25–19 victory. The decisive fifth set went down to the wire, with both teams refusing to back down. In the end, North Central edged out the Polars in dramatic fashion, 16–14, to advance to the regional final. The Polars' front line, featuring freshman standouts Delaney Boone and Jalyn Lee, along with sophomore Madilyn Smith, made their presence felt all night, each recording four blocks. Alyssa Heagney led the offense with 11 kills, while Smith also reached double figures to cap off a strong performance. Freshman Brook Orazem wrapped up her first collegiate season with an impressive 29 assists in the match.
