SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Playing their third ranked team in three straight nights, the University of Saint Mary volleyball team was unable to take down the 19th-ranked Montana Tech Miners. MTU swept the Spires in three sets (25-27, 17-25, 23-25) inside the Tyson Events Center.
Saint Mary finishes the 2019 season at 30-13 overall, eclipsing their program record mark of last season's 25 wins.
The Spires started strong keeping pace with the 19th-ranked Miners. Trailing 13-10, Aly Camacho slammed the ball down for a kill, while the Miners committed an attacking error to cut the deficit to one. Both teams would work their way to a narrow two-point set at 21-19. Montana Tech would extend the lead to four at 24-20, but USM showed some life down the stretch. Camacho, Cody Offerle and Anna Hester would help the team tie the score at 24. After a few points the Miners led 26-25 before scoring the final point of the set.
The Miners would strike early in the second set and grab a 9-4 lead. Saint Mary retained some momentum however and tie the score at 11 after after two kills from Camacho. Montana Tech then extended the lead to five at 18-13, which forced a timeout from the Spires. The Miners kept their foot on the gas pedal throughout and would take the second frame, 25-17.
Saint Mary would play another tight frame in the third as both teams hit 20. Montana Tech opened the set at 8-3 before the Spires climbed back in it as Delaney Deckard earned three consecutive kills. USM stayed within striking distance toward the end, trailing 22-21, but the Miners prevailed and took the final set 25-23.
Head coach Amy Beall said this was a great first experience for the program as they continue to move forward.
"I was really proud of our team and the way that we competed, tonight especially," Beall said. "We were playing for pride tonight and we worked our tails off and never gave up. We learned a lot about the tournament and how it works and the level that we need to continue to stay focused on. It was good to see that they are good enough to be here and we can continue to push to make this a yearly trip.
"It was a wonderful year and we have so much to be proud of. We worked hard daily and pushed each other to continually get better and better. We had some great, fun wins! And most of all the way we started was a completely different team than how we finished and that says a lot about our continued pursuit of greatness."
Camacho and Offerle each led the team with 12 kills. Haydan Heuermann posted 21 assists and Ashley Van Gieson had a double-double of 17 assists and 12 digs. Keishla Reyes had a team high 26 digs on the night.
