In a thrilling display of skill and strategy, the University of Saint Mary Spires' women's volleyball team clinched a commanding victory over Mission University on August 29^th with a decisive 3-0 win for the Spires on the first day of the College of the Ozarks Tournament.

The Spires dominated from the onset, concluding the first set with a score of 25-11. This set the tone for the rest of the match, where they continued to show their aggressive style of play. The second set proved more challenging, with the score tightening to 25-21. However, the Spires managed to maintain their lead and wrapped up the match with a 25-20 win in the third set, demonstrating their consistency and determination.

Key players emerged throughout the match, notably Chloe Byrd who led with 15 kills, followed by MJ Stephens with 11 and Emma Hadley who contributed 6. The defensive play was equally strong, with Makenza Holly leading in blocks with 4. On the offense, Daniela Rivera-Perez, Ava Bojanski, and MJ Stephens notably contributed to the team's success with series of aces.
 
In a gripping second match of the day, the University of Saint Mary Spires were defeated by the College of the Ozarks Bobcats 1-3.

The match opened fiercely with the Spires almost taking the lead, but the Bobcats barely edged them out in the first set with a tight score of 26-24. The second set continued to demonstrate strong competition between the two teams, with College of the Ozarks again clinching the set at 25-22. The Spires, not to be easily subdued, responded with vigor in the third set, securing a win with a score of 25-18. However, the Bobcats regained control in the fourth set, ending the hot streak of the Spires with a convincing 25-13 victory.

Notable performance came from Saint Mary's players, with Saige Hadley leading her team with 10 kills, closely followed by Chloe Byrd and Sophia Frerking each with 9 kills. Frerking also contributed notably in blocks along with Hadley. On the defensive side, Gabby Kurle overshadowed with impressive digs totaling 22, a testament to her defensive capabilities, and also served 2 aces. In terms of assists, the coordination was led by Morgan Herrera, who managed 18 assists.

Looking ahead, the University of Saint Mary Spires are scheduled to compete again tomorrow on day 2 of the College of the Ozarks Tournament against Mid-America Christian University.