University of Saint Mary

University of Saint Mary Spires

Schedule

Box Score

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | 11/10/2019 12:00:00 AM

Volleyball Clinches KCAC Championship With Win Over Avila

Next Match:

at Sterling

11/15/2019 | 11:28 am

Next Match

Full Schedule

Nov. 15 (Fri) / 11:28 am

at Sterling

History

Roster

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Do not doubt this team. A motto they have lived by this entire season – pursue greatness was evident Saturday afternoon after they rallied back from a 2-0 deficit, to claim three straight sets in a five-set win over Avila University (19-25, 22-25, 25-9, 25-8, 15-12) inside Mabee Fieldhouse, clinching the KCAC regular season championship in the process.

The Spires will roll into the KCAC Postseason Tournament with a 27-9 overall record, after finishing the regular season with an 11-1 mark in conference play.

Saint Mary lost two straight tough sets by scores of 19-25 and 22-25 to find themselves down 2-0 to Avila, early on. After a long break in between the third set, the Spires battled adversity and secured a 25-9 third set win jumping out to a ridiculous 17-5 lead – only to go on a 8-4 run to win the frame 25-9.

Battling outside the friendly confines of the Ryan Sports Center, the Spires continued that momentum into the fourth set. USM clung to a three point lead multiple times in the fourth set to finally pull away with two kills from Cody Offerle and a few attacking errors by the Eagles to even the score at two sets apiece.

Saint Mary would go into familiar territory as of recent, onto a fifth set where they would prevail. Leading 7-5 in the final frame, the Spires chipped away extending it to 11-5 after a kill by Anna Hester and three attack errors from Avila. The Spires would pull into a 14-7 advantageous lead later on, but the Eagles scored five straight points to force a timeout from Saint Mary.

The next serve would be the dagger, as Haydan Heuermann received the pass off the Eagles serve, only to set it to Hester who dumped it to the right side for the kill to secure the 15-12 set win.

Offerle and Cali Odom each had double-digit kills with 13 and 11 respectively. Ashley Van Gieson led the way with 27 assists and Keishla Reyes had 16 digs.

UP NEXT
The Spires advance to the KCAC Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and clinch a first round bye in the Tournament. Opponent for the Tournament is TBD.

A look at the final point and celebration: