Hutchinson, Kan.- The University of Saint Mary Spires took on the Bethel College Threshers on Friday, resulting in a three-set win (25-21, 25-23, 25-17). With the win, Saint Mary officially punches their ticket to the KCAC Semifinals.

Saint Mary got into a hole to start set one as Bethel gained an early 3-0 lead. Devyn Ford, Rylee Kenitzer, and Michelle Dvorak all responded for the Spires with big kills to get them right back in the game. After multiple Thresher errors, Ainsley Gardner and Madison Folsom contributed with kills of their own to bring Saint Mary within three points, 13-16. Another mistake by Bethel, assisted by a kill from Haydan Heuermann, sparked a major momentum swing for the Spires as they powered their way past Bethel to take set one 25-21.

Set two started with kills by Kenitzer and Gardner and a service ace by Emma Prothe to give Saint Mary the early 7-3 lead. After a point streak by Bethel helped them tie the game at 8-8, the Spires quickly adjusted. Another ace by Prothe, paired with kills by Ford and Gardner, made for an exciting finish. After a Bethel kill made the score 22-21, Ford came up big for Saint Mary with back-to-back kills. Kenitzer finished it off with a kill of her own to make the final in set two 25-23.

The third and final set started much like the second set, as Saint Mary started fast offensively, putting all the pressure on Bethel. A kill by Folsom gave Saint Mary the early 10-3 lead, forcing Bethel to call a timeout. A point streak by the Threshers closed the gap as they pulled within four, but the offensive attack for USM proved to be too much. Kills by Gardner, Ford, and Folsom gave Saint Mary all they needed to cruise to a 25-17 win in set three.

Up Next

Saint Mary will play top-seeded Ottawa University in the KCAC Semifinals at 5 p.m. on Friday in Hutchinson, Kansas.