Spires Drop Both Games in Doubleheader With Top Ranked Teams

Sioux City, Iowa- The University of Saint Mary Volleyball team concluded their Labor Day tournament Saturday with another doubleheader against Viterbo University and Northwestern College.

Game One

The Spires had a lead and control of the game for most of the set. Saint Mary extended their lead 16-10 after a six-point run that featured two service aces from Haydan Heuermann. Late in the set, Viterbo began chipping away at the sizeable Saint Mary lead, and soon enough, the V-Hawks were in the lead 18-17. The Spires could not keep up with the offensive production of the V-Hawks and lost set one, narrowly 25-22.

In set two, Saint Mary had the same fate as before, going on another early run to create an extended lead at 17-13. Viterbo once again started to slowly crawl back into the set, and in no time, it was 22-18 in favor of the V-Hawks, who took set two as well. The third and final set went to Viterbo after getting out to a 15-6 lead and not looking back, winning in three sets 3-0. Rylee Kenitzer and Keagan Shockley each had six kills against the V-Hawks, while Laney Ward led the team with 16 digs.

Game Two

The last game of the tournament against Northwestern College might have been the most exciting game of the weekend for Saint Mary. In set one, the Spires went back and forth with the Red Raiders. The set had four lead changes after the midway point and went into overtime. Each team fought to secure the lead until Saint Mary went on a crucial four-point run which was started by a kill from Devyn Ford, which got the Spires a lead they would not let go of. Northwestern stuck around to force overtime, but a service ace from Ward helped Saint Mary win the first set, 26-24. Set two was once again very similar for the Spires, but they did not come out victorious like in the first. A late surge from the Red Raiders helped them get past the Spires to even up the match at 1-1.

The offensive production did not slow down in set three for the Red Raiders, having an eight-point lead on Saint Mary at one point and winning by a score of 25-14, taking a 2-1 lead. With their backs against the wall, the Spires had to win this next set to keep the match alive. Saint Mary took an early lead, but Northwestern was never too far behind and caught the Spires late, making it 20-20. The Red Raiders then went on a 5-2 run to beat the Spires by a score of 3-1. Shockley led on offense in game two with 17 kills, while Heuermann had 23 assists.

Up Next

Saint Mary will be at the Ryan Center Tuesday to host Missouri Valley College at 7 p.m.