Truman State Recap
Playing its first match in 441 days, the Maryville volleyball team recorded more kills and digs than Truman State but was edged out 3-1 in the season opener. Set scores were 25-21, 17-25, 25-17, 25-17. The Saints blazed the nets with a .389 hitting percentage to win the second set. Hannah Scrum led the Saints with 12 kills, while Rachel Hurt tacked on 11 kills. Mikaela Kues narrowly missed a triple-double as he notched eight kills, 13 assists and 13 digs. A.J. Hallemann came up with a match-high 24 digs to lead the defensive efforts.
 
What Happened
The first set was tied 6-6 before Truman scored six of the next seven points. Maryville answered with a 4-1 run. Trailing 18-15, the Saints charged back to forge an 18-18 tie. After a TSU error, Scrum pounded down a kill, and Hallemann's tied the set. The Bulldogs used a 3-0 to take another lead. The Saints got as close as 22-21 after another kill by Scrum but Truman scored three straight.
 
In the second, the Saints were down 3-2 but reeled off four consecutive points to take a lead they would not surrender. Hurt had a kill, and Mikaela Kues terminated a ball. Back-to-back kills by Abbie Schnell and Ella Kosky were good for a 6-3 lead. Truman got as close as 12-9 but the Saints hammered back with six of the next eight points to take control at 18-11.
 
Truman took a narrow edge in the third set and was leading 15-11 before Maryville made a run. Scrum and Karolina Rodowski had kills, as the Saints eventually got the deficit down to 17-15. The visitors were up 20-17 and kept the lead the rest of the set.
 
In the last set, the Saints used a 3-0 run to close the gap to 7-6 after a block and Ella Kosky and Scrum. Truman went back up 13-8 before making a charge. The Saints went on a 4-1 burst. Avery Bell tipped in a kill and Truman committed an error. Rodowski and Kues worked a block, and Hurt's kill pulled the Saints to 14-12. Truman scored four of the next five points and kept the Saints away down the stretch. The Saints had a 46-42 edge in kills and outdug Truman 69-67.

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Hannah Scrum – 12
Hitting Percentage: Ella Kosky – .300
Assists: Abbie Schnell – 19
Service Aces: three players – 1
Digs: A.J. Hallemann – 24
Blocks: Ella Kosky and Hannah Scrum – 2

Records
Maryville: 0-1, 0-1 GLVC
Truman State: 1-0, 1-0 GLVC
 
What's Next?
The Saints are back at it Saturday, Jan. 30, as city-rival University of Missouri-St. Louis visits Moloney Arena. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. and follows Maryville men's and women's basketball.