Ottawa, Kan.- The University of Saint Mary Volleyball team took on Doane University Saturday in their final match of the Ottawa Invitational. The Spires are now 8-8 overall heading into their first KCAC matchup with Tabor College.
Set one was a close, hard-fought battle, with each team unwilling to give an inch. Keagan Shockley gave the Spires a two-point lead in the early stages of the set, making the score 9-7. As the set continued, Saint May retained the lead and was up 15-12 at one point after a kill from Rylee Kenitzer. The Tigers answered late with a five-point run of their own, tying the game up at 25 and forcing overtime. Doane continued their offensive pressure in overtime and won the first set 27-25.
The Spires were down early in set two, but after three quick points and a kill from Ainsley Gardner, Saint Mary had the lead heading into the middle part of the contest. A six-point run shortly after that extended the Spires lead to seven, making the score 18-11. Saint Mary kept up the attack, cruising to a 25-19 win, tying up the overall score a 1-1. In set three, the Spires continued to capitalize on offense and jumped out to a 7-3 lead on a Michelle Dvorak kill. A one-point Saint mary had a six-point cushion up 15-9. The Spires closed the door on the Tigers again in the second set, winning 25-17, and taking a 2-1 overall.
Set four was a close contest with multiple lead changes and an overtime finish. Saint Mary went down early, but soon they went up one after a five-point run that ended in a service ace from Mykia Campbell, making the score 8-7. The middle part of the set went back and forth, with the score tied at 14. Doane responded with a six-point run and seemed to have sealed a victory, up 20-14. Saint Mary remained resilient and came all the way back to tie the game up 24-24 and forced overtime. Doane closed out the set soon after that with two straight points, winning 26-24. The fifth and final set started close, but soon the Tigers pulled away after a four point-run and won set five by a score of 15-8 and the match 3-2. Kenitzer was the kill leader in this Saturday matchup, while Haydan Heuermann had 25 assists. Defensively, Laney Ward had a total of 28 digs on the day.
Up Next
The Spires will go on the road for a matchup against Tabor College to open KCAC play at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Hillsboro, Kansas.
