NEWTON, Kan. – The University of Saint Mary volleyball team fell in straight sets in a close battle to Southwestern College and Bethel College inside Thresher Gym on Wednesday.

Saint Mary is 0-5 overall and 0-5 in the KCAC this season.

SOUTHWESTERN MATCH
Saint Mary scored the first four points of the first set against the Moundbuilders and increased their lead to 7-1 after a kill from Gabi Silva. SC would climb back and broke a 9-9 tie – taking a 10-9 lead. Later in the set, the Spires found themselves down 20-18 before Jaycee Mack spiked a kill to cut the deficit to one. However, the Moundbuilders would score three straight points before taking the set 25-21.

Both teams traded points in set two. With the score tied at 12 apiece, the teams would go through three straight tie scores before Southwestern led 17-15. Southwestern increased their lead to five points before eventually winning the set 25-18. In the third set USM scored the first three points capped off by a kill from Hana Ronnebaum.

Later with the score tied at nine, the Spires scored six straight points with Ronnebaum and Catherine Mudd earning two kills apiece during the stretch. Southwestern continued to chip away before the Spires held a 23-19 lead. After a kill from Ronnebaum, the Moundbuilders faced five different match points and rallied back to tie the match at 25. Two straight kills from SC would seal the set and match.

Ronnebaum led the team with 10 kills and Haydan Heuermann tallied 26 assists. Bailey Chintala chipped in a team high 22 digs.

BETHEL MATCH
Saint Mary had themselves a battle against the Threshers in the nightcap. In the first set the Spires kept things close early before Bethel grabbed a 10-7 lead. The Threshers would eventually lead 14-11, but two straight kills from Jalen Keener put the Spires within one point. The Spires stayed within striking distance late, but two final points from Bethel gave them the first set 25-20. The second set was nothing short of exhilarating as the set went past the 25-point mark. The score would go into the 30's and both teams went into the later part of the set tied at 35. Bethel would end the set however by scoring two straight points to take a 2-0 match lead.

The Spires sat behind Bethel most of the third set, but would chip away in spurts throughout. Down 20-17, Mudd and Mack connected on two straight kills to make it 20-19 BC. The Threshers would close the set on a 5-2 run and take the final set 25-21 for the sweep.

Keener had a team high 14 kills and Heuermann recorded 34 assists. Chintala and Caela McGee recorded double-digit digs with 20 and 14 respectively.

UP NEXT
Saint Mary will travel to Ottawa, Kan. on Saturday to take on Ottawa University at 1 p.m.