HILLSBORO, Kan. – After a tumultuous first part of the season for the University of Saint Mary volleyball team, the Spires have started clicking on all cylinders and it showed tonight in the KCAC Tournament Quarterfinals as they defeated Tabor College in four sets – 3-1 to avenge their regular season loss against the BlueJays from just a couple weeks ago.

No. 6 seed Saint Mary is now 14-12 on the year and will advance to the KCAC Tournament semifinals on April 9.

The first set was a tight battle between the two teams. The Spires led 8-5 early on before Tabor went on a run to go up 11-8. Saint Mary would chip away and grab a 17-16 lead after a kill from Jessica Malizzi. Both teams would work their way to a 24-24 tie and on the fourth match point of the set, the Spires earned the frame with a 28-26 score after a kill from Haydan Heuermann. Tabor would take the second set at 25-19, but the Spires rolled thereafter.

Saint Mary earned a few service aces and a kill from Heuermann led the Spires to a 20-14 lead in set three. Kiara Pena would later get a kill to give the Spires a 24-18 lead before they took the set at 25-20. Saint Mary then got off to a slow start in the fourth set, clinging to a 7-6 lead but a huge 7-0 run helped create some breathing room. Rylee Kenitzer would later cap off a 9-2 run with a kill giving the Spires a 16-9 lead and the team found a way to stay on top, winning the set 25-19.

Kenitzer and Malizzi tag teamed for a combined 29 kills with 15 and 14 respectively. Heuermann led the team with 37 assists and Keishla Reyes had 23 digs.

UP NEXT
Saint Mary will play No. 10 seed Oklahoma Wesleyan in the semifinal round on April 9 at 1 p.m. in Hutchinson, Kan.