Lebanon, Ten.- The University of Saint Mary Volleyball finished play in the Phoenix Classic on Saturday. Beating Fisk University in three sets (25-11, 25-13, 25-23) and falling to Cumberland University in five sets (25-22, 25-23, 20-25, 22-25, and 13-15). Their overall record is now 4-1 on the year.  

Game One

The Spires took an early lead over the Lady Bulldogs in set one with kills from Rylee Kenitzer and Devyn Ford and two straight service aces from Ivory Howat to make the score 9-5. Saint Mary kept the pressure on Fisk with a six-point run to take a commanding lead. Kills from Madison Folsom, Kenitzer, and Ford winning big in set one 25-11. Set two started slower for the Spires, who overcame a two-point deficit and quickly took control after tying things up and going a seven-point. Howat finished set two with a service ace to give Saint Mary a 2-0 lead over the Lady Bulldogs. The Spires amassed a seven-point 15-8 lead midway through the final set. Fisk slowly chipped away at the Saint Mary lead and tied the set up a 22. A kill by Kenitzer and an attack error by the Lady Bulldogs helped push the Spires past Fisk with a 25-23 win. 

Game Two

In their final game of the weekend, the Spires fell in five sets to the Phoenix. A seven-point run, capped with a kill from Renata Dominguez, gave Saint Mary a 12-10 lead midway through the set. Cumberland responded with a run of their own and built a four-point lead on USM. The Spires rallied late in the set, thanks to kills from Folsom and Kenitzer, and won 25-22. The second set was another hard-fought win for Saint Mary, featuring four lead changes. An eight-point run, which included a service ace from Gabby Kurle, helped the Spires retake the lead at 20-15. After the Phoenix came within one of Saint Mary, Keagan Shockley put the set away with a kill to win it 25-23. The Spires could not close the door on Cumberland and dropped the following two sets, losing 25-20 and 25-22. In the fifth and final set, Saint Mary seemed to be in the driver's seat after a kill from Folsom made it 11-6 for the Spires, but a late charge from the Phoenix was enough to get past USM.

Up Next

Saint Mary will travel to Play Columbia College at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in Columbia, Missouri.