Box Score UMSL boxscore in PDF

The Maryville volleyball team ventured to crosstown Great Lakes Valley Conference member University of Missouri-St. Louis, but the Tritons kept the Saints at bay in a 3-0 decision (25-11, 28-26, 25-12). The Saints suffered through their lowest hitting percentage of the season in dropping the league opener.
 
The Tritons took a quick lead in the first set by scoring nine of the first 11 points of the match. Julia Greaves had a kill to give the Saints a boost, but UMSL kept the edge. The Saints tallied back to back kills by Grace Balcerak and Greaves but Maryville was unable to get any closer in the set.
 
The Saints had their best stretch of the evening in set two.  Trailing 11-9, the Saints scored three straight points on a Balcerak kill and the defense forced consecutive hitting errors by UMSL. The Tritons tied the set at 12-12 but a Laura Welling kill sparked a quick 3-0 run. UMSL drew to 15-13 but the Saints tacked on another 4-0 run as Mikaela Lahm had two kills and Taryn Trubich served an ace. Maryville stretched its advantage to as much as 19-13 but the Tritons chipped away and came back. The Saints had two set points but UMSL held Maryville off both times. Lahm's kill tied the set at 26-26, the 15th tie of the set before the Tritons scored the last two points.
 
A Balcerak kill got the Saints on the board in the third set before the Tritons reeled off four consecutive points. Maryville tallied three of the next four points and eventually cut the deficit to 8-5. After UMSL scored, the Saints went on a 4-1 run. Demi Maniaci had a kill, and Hana Michael and Balcerak teamed up to record back-to-back blocks. The Tritons held a 12-9 lead before a setting error and a solo block by Balcerak drew Maryville to 12-11. UMSL scored the next three points to steady its lead and put away the match with a late run.
 
Balcerak led the Saints with eight kills and hit .400 to go along with four blocks. Ali Lampen paced Maryville with 17 digs, while Michael totaled six kills, 10 digs and four blocks. Chelsea Burkle led UMSL with a double-double on 12 kills and 10 digs.
 
The Saints are now 4-6 overall, 0-1 in the GLVC. The Tritons up their mark to 5-4, 1-0 in the conference. Maryville is back in action Saturday at it heads to Springfield, Ill., to face Benedictine and Illinois Springfield.