HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The University of Saint Mary volleyball team split their final two matches at the KCAC Fall Fling on Saturday to come home with a record of 2-2. The Spires fell to Texas Wesleyan 3-1 (16-25, 23-25, 25-19, 19-25) and defeated Randall University 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-21).

TEXAS WESLEYAN MATCH: Saint Mary trailed early in the first set 11-8 before Texas Wesleyan extended the lead to eight at 22-14. The Spires chipped away briefly getting two points, but the Rams held on for the 25-16 set win. A back and forth second set would carry over into the third. The Rams took the second set by a score of 25-23, but the Spires turned things around in the next frame. After trailing 7-3, Saint Mary managed to bring the score to a tie three straight times as Anna Hester added two kills and Jessica Malizzi started a string of kills with the teams tied at 14. Six of the next seven points came from kills by Malizzi as the Spires led 24-16. The Spires would take the set later on, 25-19.

Texas Wesleyan gained the lead again in the fourth set early on at 8-6. Saint Mary would cut the deficit to one at 9-8, but the Rams went on a long run to take a 16-9 lead. Saint Mary would drop set four, 25-19.

Malizzi added a double-double with 15 kills and 14 digs. Cody Offerle added 12 kills and Haydan Heuermann added a team best 20 assists.

RANDALL: Both teams played to a 10-10 tie in the first set before the Spires gained momentum to take a 19-12 advantage. Randall cut the deficit to four at 20-16, but the Spires managed to take the set 25-19. Another close score at the start of the second set put Saint Mary ahead 9-7. Hester and McKenzie Kueker recorded two straight kills for the Spires before Malizzi produced three straight kills. The Spires led 16-10 and went on to win 25-16.

The Saints would lead in the third set at 11-8 before an attack error from Randall and three kills from Hester inched the Spires to a tie score at 12-12. Saint Mary was opportunistic as they forced the Saints to a string of errors, along with a kill from Aly Camacho to give the team a 19-13 lead. Randall fought back later on to get the score to 23-21, but the Spires scored two straight points to take the set.

Malizzi added 11 kills and 12 digs and Heuermann had a team high 20 assists.

Saint Mary takes a week off before they travel to Oskaloosa, Iowa for the William Penn Tournament on Aug. 31-Sept. 1.