ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The University of Saint Mary volleyball team split their Friday schedule on the first day of the Eutectic Classic, falling 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-18) to Oklahoma City before holding off St. Francis 3-2 (25-15, 21-25, 25-22, 18-25, 15-9) in their second match of the day.

The Spires are now 16-11 on the season.

GAME FLOW (Oklahoma City)
The Stars jumped out to a 17-9 lead in the first set against the Spires before closing it out with a 25-18 win. In the second set, Cody Offerle broke an early 1-1 tie with a kill, but Oklahoma City would continue to have the momentum as they later took a 10-5 lead and never looked back. Saint Mary fell in the second set, 25-15.

The Spires challenged the Stars in the third set as they fought off the Stars in the early going. Offerle earned a service ace, while Camille Louie and Cali Odom each had kills to break three straight ties in the set. With the score tied at 13, Oklahoma City started to build a lead, eventually taking a 23-17 advantage. The Spires would fall in the third frame – 25-18.

GAME FLOW (St. Francis)
Saint Mary trailed early in the first set, but fought their way back to take a 12-8 lead after a service ace by Angela Wade. St. Francis would hang tight with the Spires before the Spires took a seven point lead at 22-15 after a kill from Brooke Fender. The Spires would go on to win the set 25-15.

Saint Mary would fall narrowly in the second set 25-21 as St. Francis tied the match at one apiece. The Spires however, returned the favor and defeated the Fighting Saints in the third set by a score of 25-22.

The fourth set was a battle as both teams would trade points, working the set to a 17-17 tie. The Fighting Saints would then go on an 8-1 run to close out the set, 25-18 to take the match to a fifth and final frame. As the Spires have done so well this year in the fifth set, it would prove to go in their favor. Holding onto a 9-8 lead, the Spires would close the set out on a 6-1 run as Aly Camacho and Offerle each picked up one kill during the stretch. The Spires took the set 15-9.

KEY STATISTICS

- Wade had a team high 20 kills on the day.

- Ashley Van Gieson had 56 assists, including a career high 38 against the Fighting Saints.

- Katy Koepke had a team leading 27 digs, while Wade had 23.

- Wade and Bailey Wright each had three service aces.

WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE SPIRES
Saint Mary concludes the Eutectic Classic on Saturday when they take on Robert Morris at 9 a.m. and Lyon College at 1 p.m.