BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – On the first day of the Baker University Invitational, the University of Saint Mary volleyball team swept past Haskell University in their first match, 3-0, and defeated William Woods University in four sets, 3-1.

Saint Mary stands at 8-4 overall on the season.

HASKELL MATCH
Saint Mary blew out Haskell in the first set holding them to a measly five points. Rylee Kenitzer started the set with two kills and the Spires would score 10 of the first 11 points in the set. Michelle Dvorak and Alli Puetz combined for six kills later in the set as Saint Mary boosted their lead to 19-4. They would then score six of the final seven points in the set as Haydan Heuermann ended things with a service ace, giving the Spires a 25-5 win. Saint Mary was down early in the second set but bounced back by breaking a 7-7 tie. They then saw their lead extend as they went on a run at 16-12. Kelsey Huggans and Catherine Mudd combined for three kills, before Madison Folsom and Keagan Shockley ended the set with back-to-back kills, 25-14.

The third set was handled well by the Spires as they took a 16-10 lead. Folsom and Mudd would earn one kill apiece before Bailey Chintala had a service ace to give the team the 19-10 advantage. Folsom would later end the match with a slam giving the team a 25-12 third set victory.

WILLIAM WOODS MATCH
USM kept the momentum going in the second match, grabbing the first two sets at 25-19 and 25-18. In the first set, Saint Mary held an 18-13 lead before Hannah Vanriette grabbed a kill and Abby Hairell earned a service ace. The Spires had set point with a 24-19 score after five straight points by the Owls as they then committed a service error, making it 1-0 USM. With an 11-8 lead in set two, Dvorak slammed two straight kills and Keishla Reyes earned a service ace to give the Spires a 14-8 lead. Saint Mary would keep the pressure on the Owls as Dvorak ended the set with a kill.

William Woods would take the third set by a score of 25-19, but the Spires rallied back in the fourth set. Dvorak would put the Spires in double-digits as Dvorak earned a service ace to make it 10-5. The team kept their foot on the gas pedal throughout the set and went up by 10 points after a service ace from Reyes, before closing out the set 25-12.

Shockley led the team with 21 kills on the day, while Dvorak was second with 19. Hairell posted a team-high 51 assists and 22 digs.

The Spires will conclude play at Baker University tomorrow when they face (RV) Columbia College at 1 p.m. and Graceland University at 5 p.m.