SATURDAY'S SCORES
Kansas City 3,
Austin Peay 1 (25-23, 25-22, 25-19, 27-25)
Troy 3,
UT Martin 0 (25-16, 25-15, 26-19)
@Saint Louis 3,
UT Martin 0 (27-25, 25-18, 25-17)
Butler 3,
Southeast Missouri 1 (25-17, 25-21, 25-18, 25-17)
@Jacksonville 3,
Belmont 2 (25-16, 25-21, 27-29, 17-25, 15-10)
@Tulsa 3,
SIUE 1 (19-25, 25-15, 25-12, 25-20)
Purdue Fort Wayne 3,
Eastern Illinois 1 (25-16, 23-25, 25-9, 25-20)
@Evansville 3,
Eastern Illinois 2 (31-29, 23-25, 25-19, 29-31, 17-15)
@Akron 3,
Eastern Kentucky 0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-22)
Eastern Kentucky 3, Saint Francis (Pa.) 0 (25-12, 25-6, 25-11)
Arizona 3,
Morehead State 0 (25-18, 25-7, 25-16)
Murray State 3, @UIC 1 (26-24, 19-25, 25-23, 25-21)
Murray State 3, Bradley 2 (25-21, 18-25, 24-26, 25-21, 15-13)
Mercer 3,
Tennessee State 1 (25-23, 25-19, 18-25, 25-17)
Tennessee Tech 3, North Alabama 0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-9)
Tennessee Tech 3, Manhattan 0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-22)
Mississippi State 3, @Jacksonville State 1 (25-22, 24-26, 25-23, 25-19)
KANSAS CITY 3, AUSTIN PEAY 1
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Junior Brooke Moore finished with a season-high 20 kills as Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team dropped a four-set decision (25-23, 22-25, 19-25, 25-27) to Kansas City, Saturday morning, in the second of the Mizzou Invitational at the Hearnes Center.
There was plenty of back-and-forth action throughout the match with the two teams battling through 26 ties and 13 lead changes in the four-set match. In the decisive fourth set, Austin Peay built an early lead and nearly carried that lead all the way to the finish. Kansas City used an 11-3 run to tie the frame at 20-20 and took the lead for good at 22-21. The Govs would fend off a pair of match points in overtime, but a pair of errors turned the tide to the Roos favor.
Moore was one of three Governors hitters to find double-digit kill totals against the Roos. Junior Chloe Stitt had 13 kills and sophomore Jenna Panning notched a season-best 12 kills. Behind that trio’s efforts, Austin Peay recorded season bests in kills (61) and attack percentage (.216).
However, Kansas City saw four players reach double-digit kill territory with Alcia Harrington’s 16 kills leading the way. The Roos finished with 63 kills and a .266 attack percentage as a team.
Austin Peay concludes its three-day stay at Missouri with a 10 a.m., Sunday contest against Northern Iowa.
BUTLER 3, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Freshman libero Tara Beilsmith was named to the Panther Invitational All-Tournament Team as Southeast Missouri women's volleyball (4-6) dropped a 1-3 (17-25, 25-21, 18-25, 17-25) decision to the BIG EAST's Butler (2-7) to wrap up the tournament Saturday at the Klotsche Center.
Beilsmith led the Redhawks defensively over the three-match Invitational with 64 digs including 24 Saturday against the Bulldogs. It was the second-straight match that Beilsmith posted 20 plus digs and fourth time in 2019.
Claire Ochs and Laney Malloy both registered double-double outings in Saturday's tournament finale. Malloy paced the SEMO offense with 12 kills to complement 14 digs and four blocks for her fourth double-double of the campaign.
Ochs dished out 30 assists with 15 digs for her fifth double-double in 2019.
Butler opened the contest with a 4-0 lead in the first set. Krista Berns and Malloy combined for a block to pull within a point, 6-5.
The Bulldogs then grew their advantage to 22-9 before committing three straight errors. Malloy hit a kill and Emily Boggetto delivered an ace to make the score, 23-14.
Ochs added a kill to pull SEMO within eight, 24-16, before BU grabbed the set, 25-17.
Southeast then responded with a 25-21 second set to even the match at 1-1.
The Redhawks jumped out to a 7-2 advantage after a block from Maggie Adams and Malloy coupled with a Malloy kill.
SEMO then increased that lead to 12-6 after a 5-0 run that included a pair of kills from Berns.
Berns finished the day with a season best nine kills on a .444 hitting percentage with four blocks behind a four-kill third set.
Malloy then batted a kill to put the Redhawks up two, 15-13, before the Bulldogs evened the set at 16-16 on a rally stopper from Brooke Gregory.
SEMO then distanced themselves from BU on a 5-0 run, 23-18. Ally Dion slammed a kill before an ace from Boggetto.
Mikayla Kuhlmann claimed the set for Southeast with a winner, 25-21.
Butler then closed out the match with 25-18, 25-17 third and fourth sets.
The Bulldogs had a fast start in the third frame as a 9-3 advantage prompted a SEMO timeout.
A pair of kills from Shanice Horn increased the lead to 16-9.
Southeast then came within five points, 22-17, after a Berns service ace and a kill from Ochs.
Ochs added another kill before BU closed the set, 25-18, on a winner from Megan Sheridan.
In the final set, Southeast earned an early 7-6 lead after four straight points that included a Beilsmith ace and a Malloy kill.
Kuhlmann and Annie Wehrheim both notched kills to give SEMO a one point lead, 13-12, before the lead went back in favor of the Bulldogs, 20-15, after a 4-0 run.
Jillian Ziemba gave BU match point, 24-16, after a couple of service aces sandwiched a kill from Anna Logan.
Berns added a kill before Megan Ramseyer propelled the Bulldogs to a victory with a kill.
Southeast was out blocked by the Bulldogs, 10-6.
Kuhlmann concluded the day with a season best seven kills.
SEMO next travels for its second non-conference midweek matchup on Tuesday at Saint Louis. The Redhawks then close out their non-conference slate with the Memphis Invitational Sept. 20-21 with contests scheduled against Toledo, North Alabama and host, Memphis.
JACKSONVILLE 3, BELMONT 2
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- After battling back to force a fifth set on Saturday afternoon in Historic Swisher Gynmasium, Belmont Volleyball was held off at the wire at Jacksonville in the finale of the River City Rumble. The Bruins (1-10) fell to the Dolphins (2-7), 3-2.
Belmont jumped out to an early lead to start the first set but soon the Dolphins were able to knot the score, 6-6. The Bruins remained within striking distance as Jacksonville searched for a way to build on its slim lead. After a JU service ace extended the lead to six, 18-12, BU called its final timeout of the frame. However, Jacksonville exploded and used a 5-0 run to go up, 23-14. Belmont would add two more points, thanks to a kill by freshman Kailee Bass (Aurora, Ill.) and a JU error but it would not be enough as the Dolphins held on for the 25-16 win.
The second stanza began with the teams trading points, falling into four scoring stalemates before the Dolphins started pulling away. The Bruin bench called timeout after watching the point differential grow to three points, 8-5. BU came out of the break, quickly knotted the score and taking the lead behind a 5-0 run, with kills coming from senior Huntir Bass (Mobile, Ala.) and juniors Halee Van Poppel (Argyle, Texas) and Mackenzie LePage (Franklin, Tenn.). Belmont continued battling back through the midpoint of the set, even using solo blocks from Kailee Bass and Huntir Bass to remain within striking distance. The Dolphins used a 5-0 run of their own to take a 15-12 lead. BU pushed back to knot the score at 18 but Jacksonville wrestled the chance at the lead away from the visitors down the stretch. JU went on to hold off another late Belmont surge to take the set, 25-21.
The Bruins opened the third frame with a 5-0 run that put them ahead, 6-3, with the help of a pair of service aces by Kailee Bass and kills from sophomore Mary Catherine Ball (Hendersonville, N.C.) and Van Poppel. JU was able to pull within one point, 10-9, and Belmont called for a huddle session to stay on track. BU continued to roll, maintaining its lead through the midpoint of the set. A pair of service aces by Van Poppel was enough to put BU ahead, 17-12. The Dolphins pushed back to trim the lead down to three points and the Bruins called for its final timeout to strategize. After the brief break, Belmont was able to hold onto its two-point lead. JU inched as close as one point before knotting the score at 21. The teams fell into an intense back and forth battle before Belmont pulled ahead 25-24 after a block by Ball and Kailee Bass. The Dolphins would not give up easily and pushed the Bruins to their highest set point tally of the season so far. Despite their efforts, it would be three consecutive kills from Van Poppel that would seal the Belmont set win, 29-27.
BU was able to maintain its offensive momentum at the start of the fourth set. Kills from junior Akia Warrior (Fort Worth, Texas) Ball, Van Poppel and Kailee Bass helped BU stay ahead by as many as six, 16-10. A stunned Dolphin bench called for a timeout to regroup but Belmont refused to relent down the stretch. With Bruin fans on their feet, the visitors punched it into overtime to grab the 25-17 set win and force a fifth and deciding set.
Belmont came out swinging in the fifth set and took a two-point lead, 6-4, behind kills by Van Poppel. The Dolphins notched a point and the Bruins called a precautionary timeout to stay settled. It was just enough as kills from Ball and Van Poppel put Belmont ahead at the switch, 8-7. Suddenly, Jacksonville added four consecutive points to take the lead, 11-8, and BU was forced to burn its final timeout of the frame. The Dolphins continued to build space between the teams down the stretch. A reversed call lifted JU to set point before a Bruin service error handed the home team the 15-10 set win.
For the match, junior Halee Van Poppel (Argyle, Texas) finished with a career and match-high 24 kills. She also collected a double-double with 13 digs and a trio of service aces. Classmate Akia Warrior (Fort Worth, Texas) posted 47 assists to match her career-best outing. Sophomore Faith Cobugh (Union, Ky.) led BU in digs with 15.
For her efforts over the weekend, Van Poppel was named to the River City Rumble All-Tournament Team.
Belmont returns to action on Tuesday evening in the Curb Event Center. The Bruins host regional rival Western Kentucky for a match with first serve set for 5 p.m.
TULSA 3, SIUE 1
TULSA, Okla.— The SIUE volleyball team fell short in the last match of the Tulsa Invitational 3-1 against the host, Tulsa on Saturday. They fell by scores of 25-19, 15-25, 12-25 and 20-25.
Leading the way for the Cougars was Rachel McDonald who ended the afternoon with six kills and 13 digs. Hope Everett also helped the team battle through with six kills and three blocks. Other members who contributed to the teams efforts include Kiana Fields with six blocks, Dylynn Otte with 17 digs and four blocks and Jordyn Klein with 18 digs.
The Cougars had one individual represented on the Tulsa Invitational All-Tournament team, Rachel McDonald. On the weekend, McDonald had 29 kills, 31 digs and three aces to help her achieve this accolade. This is the second time this season McDonald has been recognized on an All-Tournament Team.
The team now moves to 5-4 on the season and will compete in their fourth and last tournament of the season next weekend. The Cougars will open up home play with the Cougar Classic, taking on Central Arkansas on Friday at 6 p.m.
AKRON 3, EASTERN KENTUCKY 0; EASTERN KENTUCKY 3, SAINT FRANCIS (PA) 0
AKRON, OHIO. – The Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team split a pair of contests on the final day of the Akron Invitational.
The Colonels lost the first match to Akron 16-25, 14-25 and 22-25, before winning the second match in straight sets 25-12, 25-6 and 25-11 against Saint Francis.
Rachel Woody and Abby Noll were named to the all-tournament team.
Woody posted nine kills and nine digs against Saint Francis. Mikayla Logan chipped in four kills after hitting .500 on the match. Raegan Alexander posted a career-best 15 assists on the match. Adria Hartley went for nine kills.
In match two against Saint Francis, the Colonels scored nine of the first 13 points to take a 9-4 lead over the Red Flash and not look back. Eastern used a 6-1 run halfway through the first set after an error by Saint Francis to take a 17-8 lead over the Red Flash. The Colonels scored the last three points of the set, capped off by a Woody kill to take the opening set 25-12.
In set two, Eastern scored 11 of the first 13 points to take a commanding 11-2 lead over Saint Francis. The Colonels ended that run with five straight kills. EKU used a 7-0 run after a kill by Jovana Bulatovic to take a 22-5 lead in the set. Saint Francis scored the next point, but Eastern followed up with the last three points of the set to take the second set 25-6.
In set three, the Colonels jumped out to a commanding 11-2 lead after a kill by Clairissa Hankinson and never looked back. Eastern scored six of the last nine points to take the set and the match.
Alexa Mamone led the way for the Red Flash posting five kills and two digs.
Eastern hit a season-high .455 on the contest.
MERCER 3, TENNESSEE STATE 0
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Tennessee State lost to Mercer 3-1 (25-23, 25-19, 18-25, 25-17) making Big Blue's overall record 5-6.
Julia Pierson led the match with 14 kills. Gina Rivera-Ortiz had the match high of 28 digs. Teuila Lolotai led TSU in assists with 24.
SET ONE
Pierson and Aniya Williams started the Tigers off strong with two kills. Mercer tied the set up but with her second kill Williams put TSU back on top. The Bears seemed to keep finding it's way back to a tie but kills from Kariely Santana-Delgado, Pierson, Williams and Teuila Lolotai kept the Tigers strong. An attack error on Khalia Jordan gave the Bears the lead, but Sofia Garcia-Guerrios tied it back up with her first kill. The Tigers pulled ahead with kills from Williams and Pierson. A TSU service error gave Mercer the lead. Brittany Major with a kill won the first set for the Bears, 25-23.
SET TWO
Mercer came out swinging and scored with three kills. The Tigers tried to stay in the set with a second kill from Santana-Delgado, but the Bears stayed dominate. Kills from Roberta Todd and Annie Karle kept Mercer ahead. The Bear's offense drilled TSU's defense and found the holes to give Mercer an eight-point lead. Three kills from Big Blue's offense brought TSU back into the set. But a kill from Todd gave Mercer game point. A service error on Williams gave set two to Mercer, 25-19.
SET THREE
Started off with a kill from Williams. But Mercer came right back with a kill from Major. Kills flew back and forth over the net, which kept the game tied. An ace for Williams gave the Tigers a lead. Two kills from Karle gave the Bears the lead but with a kill, Aria Holmes took the lead back for TSU. Mercer fought hard to tie the set up, but two kills from Pierson sqaushed those attempts. Pierson with two more kills and an attack error on Mercer won the set for Tennessee State, 25-18.
SET FOUR
After a good volley, Mercer took the lead with a kill by Jaida Howell. Pierson with her 13th kill of the match tied up the set for TSU. But, three kills in a row for the Bears gave Mercer the advantage. Mercer with a six-point lead kept finding ways to run the score up against the Tigers. TSU tried to stay in the set with a kill from Pierson but Mercer came back with a kill. A service error on TSU gave the match to the Bears, 25-17.
Tennessee State will be back on the road headed to Florence, Ala. for a match against North Alabama. TSU hosted North Alabama earlier this season for an exhibition match and won 3-0. The game will take place Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.
MURRAY STATE 3, UIC 2; MURRAY STATE 3, BRADLEY 2
CHICAGO, Ill. - Senior and Chicago area native Rachel Giustino played for the first time in Chicago in her Murray State career and did not disappoint as she combined for 57 kills, 29 digs while hitting .326 in two wins Saturday over Illinois-Chicago and Bradley.
Combined with their win yesterday over Sacramento State, the Racers went 3-0 on the weekend to claim the UIC Invitational title, their first early-season tournament title since the 2017 Chattanooga Classic.
Against UIC, Giustino and Rachel Holthaus each had monster performances. Giustino led the way with 26 kills while hitting an efficient .344. Not to be outdone, Holthaus hit an even more efficient .361 with 17 kills. Juniors Ashley McBee and Chicago area-native Becca Fernandez also had big games as they recorded 47 assists and 20 digs, respectively.
The Racers fell behind 6-1 early in the first set, but a 5-1 run got them back into the set right away. Later in the set, the Flames held a 20-15 lead, but MSU responded with a 4-0 run bookended by kills by Giustino and Holthaus to get back within one. It still did not look like it would be enough, however, as UIC had set point at 24-21, but after saving three set points to tie the set at 24, Katirah Johnson teamed up Giustino for a block to give the Racers the lead before Johnson got some help from Emily Matson on a block to give the Racers to set victory, 26-24.
After the Flames won the second set comfortably, 25-19, UIC looked like they may take a two sets to one advantage in the match as they led 21-19, but Matson unleashed her big serve to the tune of three straight service aces, the first two of which were mishandled by the Flames before planting one in the corner to give the Racers the momentum and the lead. Giustino added another service ace a couple of points later to give MSU set point before Holthaus ended the set with a kill.
The fourth set was the most tightly contested of the match as neither team held more than a two-point lead until the Racers took a 22-19 lead on a kill by Giustino. The two teams then traded points the rest of the way with Racers taking the set, 25-21, and the match on a UIC service error.
In the weekend finale against Bradley, the Racers were once again led by Giustino, who put up the first 30-20 performance in school history in the rally-scoring era (since 1999) with 31 kills and 22 digs while hitting .311.
Fernandez also had a big match, recording 33 digs while McBee dished out 50 assists, her third 50-assist performance of the season.
In the first set, the Racers jumped out to a 15-7 lead and never looked back as they eventually won the set, 25-21, hitting .295 as a team.
The second set was tight for most of the set until a 5-0 run by the Braves put them up 22-15 before the two teams traded points allowing Bradley to take the set, 25-18.
The third set also went back-and-forth until the Racers had set point at 24-23. However, Bradley won the next three points to take the set.
With their backs against the wall, the Racers jumped out to a 7-1 lead, which included five kills by Giustino, but the Braves climbed back into the set, tying the set at 13. The two teams kept battling until the set was tied at 21 when the Racers went on a 4-0 run win the set and force a decisive fifth set.
In the fifth set, the Racers won the first point, but Bradley responded with six straight points. With the set only being played to 15, Murray State had to have a quick response and they did as they went on a 9-3 run to take a 10-9 lead. However, Bradley won the next three-point to take a two-point lead. Needing to make one final run, the Racers responded by winning five of the last six points to win 15-13.
Murray State will be back in action next weekend at the Stacey Clark Classic hosted by Purdue. They will take on Eastern Michigan and the Boilermakers on Friday before wrapping up non-conference play with Texas A&M – Corpus Christi on Saturday morning.
ARIZONA 3, MOREHEAD STATE 0
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Wrapping play at the Kansas Volleyball Invitational, Morehead State volleyball dropped its final match of the event Saturday. The Eagles (6-3) fell to Arizona (6-2) in straight sets by scores of 25-18, 25-7, and 25-16.
Recording eight digs in the match, redshirt senior defensive specialist Danielle McCarson not only led the Eagles in digs but surpassed 1,000 career digs. Sophomore libero Allison Whitten added seven digs for Morehead State while sophomore defensive specialist Olivia Montelisciani tallied five to lead an Eagle backline that scooped up 31 balls.
Attacking from the outside, junior outside hitters Olivia Lohmeier and Lauren Rokey paced the Morehead State offense, recording 10 terminations apiece. Ten kills on the day for Lohmeier continued her streak of 21 consecutive matches reaching double-figure kills. Rokey collected 10 kills while hitting .471 from the pin, committing just two errors on 17 swings.
Handling primary setter duties for the second consecutive match, freshman Bridget Bessler dished out 21 assists on the day, recording three-fourths of the team's 28 total assists. Recording 29 total kills on the afternoon, the Eagles assisted on all but one kill and have assisted on 93 percent of the team's kills this season.
Morehead State collected two blocks and one service aces on the afternoon. Lohmeier collected the Eagles' lone solo block while Rokey and sophomore middle blocker Mia Swearingen teamed up for the team's other block. Bessler landed the team's lone ace.
Following the Kansas Volleyball Invitational, the Eagles return home to complete the tournament portion of the 2019 slate, hosting the Comfort Inn-Vitational for the 13th time in program history and the first at Johnson Arena. Morehead State welcomes regional rival Marshall, Coppin State, and Southeastern Louisiana. Play begins Thursday evening with the Eagles and Thundering Herd beginning at 6 p.m. ET.
PURDUE FORT WAYNE 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1; EVANSVILLE 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 2
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Eastern Illinois lost its final two matches of the Evansville Dunn Hospitality Tournament to Purdue Fort Wayne and Evansville on Saturday. EIU remains winless through its opening three in-season tournaments falling to 0-9. The Panthers return to action Sept 20-21 at the Youngstown State Red and White Invitational in Youngstown, Ohio.
PURDUE FORT WAYNE 3, EASTERN ILLINOI S 1
In the first match of the day for the Panthers Purdue Fort Wayne jumped out to win the first set winning the match 3-1 (25-16, 22-25, 25-9, 25-20).
The first set opened close as the teams were tied 9-9. Purdue Fort Wayne then went on a 5-0 run to take control of the set as the Panthers never recovered from the Mastodon run
In the second set Purdue Fort Wayne jumped out to a 12-8 lead. EIU was able to take advantage of three straight Mastodons attack errors midway in the match to gain some momentum. With the match tied at 21, EIU would again take advantage of two Purdue Fort Wayne attack errors coupled with a pair kills by Maggie Runge to post the win.
In the third set Purdue Fort Wayne hopped out to a 4-0 lead on the serving of Rachel Crucis. The lead would expand to 14-4 and eventually 19-6 as Crucis again served four straight points for the team.
In the final set Runge helped put the Panthers in front 13-10 with another pair of kills and a block at the net. With the set tied at 19-19, Purdue Fort Wayne won six of the final seven points to take the match.
The Panthers were led by Runge with 13 kills and three blocks. Bailey Chandler had 28 assists. Hannah Sieg and Katie Sommer added three blocks each.
Purdue Fort Wayne was led by Madelyn Wurster with 14 kills.
EVANSVILLE 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 2
In the Panthers final match of the tournament they lost to host Evansville, 3-2 (29-31, 25-23, 19-25, 31-29, 17-15)
In the first set, EIU pulled out to an early lead with a 4-0 run before the Aces rallied back to tie it up at 12-12. It was back and forth for the rest of the match as Morgan Matusik tied up the match at 24-24 with an ace. Evansville would rally to win the final two points to edge EIU 31-29 as three of the five sets went beyond regulation scoring.
EIU would take the second set before Evansville built a 2-1 set lead by winning the third.
The fourth set again went beyond regulation as it was the Panthers who scored the final two points. Ireland Hieb tied the match at 25-25. Runge would get a kill and the Aces would fall on an attack error.
In the final set, EIU built a 14-10 lead and appeared headed for its first win of the season. Evansville was able to take advantage of two EIU attack errors and received two big kills from Melanie Feliciano. The Aces went up 15-14 before Runge’s kill tied the match at 15-15. The Aces closed out the match with the final two points.
The Panthers were led by Hieb with 14 kills. Maggie Runge add 12 kills and eight blocks. Laurel Bailey had 10 kills and 21 digs to record a double-double.
The Aces were led by Melanie Feliciano with 36 kills and six blocks.
TROY 3, UT MARTIN 0; SAINT LOUIS 3, UT MARTIN 0
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Senior middle blocker Gintare Mackeviciute claimed all-tournament accolades for the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball squad but the Skyhawks fell to Troy (16-25, 15-25, 19-15) and Saint Louis (25-27, 18-25, 17-25) by 3-0 margins today.
Mackeviciute accounted for a team-best 21 kills (2.33 per set) on a .208 attack percentage during the Billiken Invitational, also chipping in six blocks. It marks the second all-tournament nod during the senior season of the Jonava, Lithuania native as she also earned that status at the Indiana Invitational on Aug. 30-31.
On the day, Mackeviciute posted 17 kills on a .333 hitting percentage, committing only six attack errors on 33 attempts. Justine Walker paced the Skyhawks with three service aces and seven blocks today while Kenzie Hinshaw (34 assists) and Logan Wallick (17 digs) guided UT Martin in their respective statistical categories.
The Skyhawks head back on the road on Tuesday, Sept. 17 when they travel to Southern Illinois. First serve from Carbondale, Ill. is set for 6 p.m.
Troy
Mackeviciute compiled team-highs of seven kills and a .455 attack percentage but UT Martin wasn’t able to find an offensive rhythm against the Sun Belt Conference opponent.
An assisted block by Hinshaw and Walker opened the match and gave the Skyhawks a 1-0 advantage. The Trojans followed with four unanswered points but a kill and service ace by Wallick on back-to-back possessions cut the UT Martin deficit to two. Troy scored nine of the next 11 points before the Skyhawks went on a 5-1 surge. Jessica Reynolds collected a pair of late kills but Troy ended the set with five of the final six points.
Reynolds and Mackeviciute each delivered a pair of kills as UT Martin and the Trojans were knotted at 7-all to begin the second stanza. After Troy went on a 6-2 run, kills by Hannah Phillips, Walker and Mackeviciute kept the Skyhawks within striking distance at 15-12. However, the Trojans went on a 10-3 run from that point forward to take a 2-0 advantage in the match.
The third set featured five early ties, capped off after Addison Conley slammed down a kill to make the score 6-all. Troy accounted for the next four points before a Walker service ace trimmed UT Martin’s deficit to 13-10. The Trojans immediately followed with a 6-1 surge but the Skyhawks pushed through to eventually get within three points (22-19) after a block assist by Phillips and Walker. Troy was able to recover by scoring three unanswered points to win the match.
Saint Louis
UT Martin nearly captured the opening set but could not turn the corner in a 3-0 setback to host Saint Louis.
Wallick got off to a hot start in the opening set, churning out three kills and a service ace through the Skyhawks’ first 10 points to provide a three-point UT Martin advantage. The Billikens briefly took a lead but a Conley service ace tilted the score back in favor of the Skyhawks at 14-13. The two sides swapped blows before UT Martin had set point at both 24-23 and 25-24. However, Saint Louis was able to fend off elimination and eventually pieced together three straight points to take the 1-0 advantage.
A pair of Conley kills highlighted a 4-2 start to the second set for the Skyhawks. The Billikens soon pieced together a 7-2 run to go on top by a 16-10 margin but UT Martin got back in the contest thanks to a late surge. Kills by Karen Scanlon and Reynolds bookended a 7-2 Skyhawk run that made the score 22-18. Saint Louis regained the momentum and answered with three consecutive points to go ahead 2-0 in the match.
Back-to-back Mackeviciute kills pushed UT Martin ahead by a 6-4 margin in the third set. The Billikens pushed ahead for a quick moment but another Mackeviciute kill and a kill by Haeleigh Paulino evened the score at 8-all. Saint Louis used a 5-0 run to create some separation before back-to-back kills by Hinshaw and Mackeviciute pulled the Skyhawks back within three points at 18-15. However, te Billikens came right back with a 7-2 run to close out the match.