ROSEMOUNT, MINNESOTA -- After a tough loss to a nationally-ranked team, Ellsworth bounced back to beat the host school in a triangular on Wednesday. The Panthers fell to 20th-rated North Dakota State College of Science in straight sets, all of them decided by 3 points or less (22-25, 23-25, 23-25). ECC gained a split for the day with a 3-1 victory against Dakota County Tech, winning 24-26, 26-24, 25-16, 25-17.
In the NDSCS match, sophomore Louise Lion led Ellsworth with 9 kills and she added 6 digs and served 4 of her team's 8 aces. Faith Lobo had 7 kills, Nuria Bravo Santos piled up 20 assists and 7 digs and Alondra Acevedo led the squad with 9 digs.
Lion and Lobo each had 13 kills in the DCTC match and Katie Winter chipped in 9. Bravo Santos registered 35 assists and the Panthers again served well with 12 aces, 5 by Yanilette Diaz and 3 by Acevedo. Acevedo and Lion paced ECC with 10 digs apiece.
Ellsworth, 3 and 3 for the seasosn, opens their home schedule against NIACC next Wednesday night and will host Minnesota West on Friday.