Leavenworth, Kan. – The University of Saint Mary volleyball faced off against Bethany College and Avila University at the Ryan Sports Center on Saturday afternoon. The Spires beat the Swedes in four sets 3-1 and swept the Eagles 3-0.

The Spires now sit at 6-9 overall and 6-9 in the KCAC.

BETHANY MATCH
The first set was a defensive battle as each team had multiple points coming from blocks and lights out play. The Spires did get off to an early five-point deficit due to errant or blocked shots. However, the team would not quit and came within two late in the set but could not hold on and fell 25-19.

In the second set, the Spires fought hard and were neck and neck with the Swedes. There were 12 lead changes in the set and with the score tied at 17; a kill by Kelsey Huggans sparked the Spires. With this momentum shift, the Spires were able to surge past the Swedes in the second.

Beginning the third set, the Spires picked up right where they left off as they began to pull away from the Swedes with a score of`11-5. With all the momentum on their side, sophomore Rylee Kenitzer practically took over the set recording seven kills. Saint Mary sprinted past the finish line to win the third set by a score of 25-11.

The fourth set was full of dram as it was another close game, as Saint Mary had seemed to lose their rhythm. The Spires found themselves down 13-9 and in need of a comeback. This came as they surged all the way back to win by a score of 25-22.

Kenziter led the team with 22 kills while Jessica Malizzi added 14 kills and 15 digs and Haydan Heuermann had 49 assists.

AVILA MATCH
The first set was a slow start for the Spires as they led Avila 6-5. Avila tried to keep up with the Spires but Heuermann's kill fed energy into the Spires offense to break away from Avila 8-6. The Spires seemed to catch a spark offensively and surged past Avila 21-11. Avila tried to figure out their offense, but were unable to stop the Spires and lost the first set 25-13.

The Spires seemed to feed off their energy in first set to lead the second set 12-5. Avila struggled to stop the Spires defensively as the Spires capitalized off their mistakes. Avila slowly chipped away more points to cut the deficit by five, 21-16. The Spires offense broke away from Avila to win the second set 25-17.

The Spires fired away first to score the first point in the third set by a kill from Huggans - 1-0. Avila did not give up and battled back and forth with the Spires giving them just a two-point lead at 9-7. The Spires seemed to break Avila's confidence thanks to a service ace by Catherine Mudd making it 12-8. Avila did not get discouraged and chipped away to cut the deficit by three at 24-21. Avila tried to make a comeback but thanks to a kill by Malizzi the Spires won the third set by a score of 25-22

Kenziter led the team with 14 kills while Keishla Reyes collected 12 digs and Huermann had 27 assists.

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Saint Mary is scheduled to play Friends at home on Monday at 7 p.m.