Kansas City, Mo.- The University of Saint Mary Volleyball team took on Avila University and College of the Ozarks Friday afternoon, resulting in a four-set loss (16-25, 22-25, 25-18, 20-25) to Avila and a three-set win against College of the Ozarks (25-12, 25-19, 25-15). The Spires are now 15-11 and 3-3 in conference play heading into a matchup with College of the Ozarks.
Game One
Keagan Shockley and Devyn Ford got the Spires on the board early with kills to put them up 3-0. Avila got right back in the game with kills of their own. A service ace by Rylee Kenitzer as well as multiple kills gave Saint Mary momentum halfway through the set. Rebecca Sprauge, Mattie Dougherty, and Shockley all contributed to a Spires point streak that gave them the 16-10 lead. Avila came back with a streak of their own as Saint Mary went scoreless the rest of the set, losing 25-16.
Avila picked up right where they left off as they got out to an early 4-1 lead. Saint Mary would regroup as Ford, Kenitzer, and Ainsley Gardner all had key kills to put the score at 12-13. A Sprauge kill and Laney Ward service ace were not enough as Avila won a back-and-forth set two 25-22.
The Spires came out ready to play for set three as Kenitzer, Ward, and Michelle Dvorak helped give the Spires a 10-8 lead. They did not let up as Kenitzer, Sprauge, and Renata Dominguez continued the offensive output as Saint Mary took set three 25-18.
An early point streak by the Eagles made it difficult to get any offensive momentum going for the Spires as Avila got out to an early lead. A couple of service aces by Kenitzer and Ward were not enough, as Avila ran away with a 25-20 win.
Game Two
Saint Mary showed up ready to play for set one as Kenitzer, Dominguez, and Gardner put the Spires on the board early with kills to give USM a 12-5 lead. Abbey Hairell and Madison Folsom added to the lead with kills of their own. A late push by the Bobcats would not be enough as Saint Mary cruised to a 25-12 win.
The second set started much like the first, thanks to an ace by Ward and kills from Dvorak and Kenitzer. Ava Bojanski added another service ace that was paired with a kill by Sprauge, giving Saint Mary an 18-9 lead. That was all the Spires needed as Folsom and Gardner closed out the second set for the 25-19 win.
The third and final set showed promise for the Bobcats, but Saint Mary kept their foot on the gas. Emma Prothe's service ace, paired with a point from Haydan Heuermann, forced College of the Ozarks to take a timeout. Kenitzer and Folsom added key kills down the stretch as the Spires put the Bobcats away for the 25-15 win.
Up Next
Saint Mary will hit the road for a midweek matchup as they play Bethel College at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Newton, Kansas.
