Kirksville, Mo. – The Maryville volleyball team won a five-set thriller at Truman State Friday evening in Great Lakes Valley Conference action. The Saints prevailed 25-22, 25-23, 20-25, 23-25, 15-10 for their 10th victory of the season. Maryville reaches double digits in kills for the first time since the 2015 team won 12 matches. Mikaela Kues recorded a career-high 17 kills, while Taylor Keck notched a double-double with 17 kills and 11 digs. Taylor Hasbrook posted a career high with 23 digs.
 
What Happened
The Saints scored the first three points of the match to grab an early lead. Maryville extended the cushion to 7-1 and kept a small margin for most of the set. The Saints used back-to-back kills from Alyssa Koska and Mikaela Kues to reach set point. After a Truman kill, Avery Bell ended the set with a kill.
 
Set two was close throughout until Bell recorded a kill to start a quick 4-0 burst. After a Truman error, Grace Knadler and Koska recorded kills. The Saints scored three of the next four points before a Truman miscue gave the Saints a narrow 25-23 decision. Midway in set three, Truman went on a 5-0 run to inch ahead. However, the Bulldogs tallied four of the final five points to take their first set of the night.
 
The fourth set was also tight as Truman eventually built a 19-17 lead. After a Truman service error, Kues had a kill to tie the set at 19-19. The Bulldogs went ahead before Knadler and Bell notched consecutive kills for a 21-20 lead. After a Truman timeout, the hosts scored two straight to go back up 22-21. Kues answered for another tie at 22-all but Truman went up 24-22. Taylor Keck saved one set point with a kill before Truman scored to even the match at 2-2.
 
In the fifth set, the score was tied at 4-4 before Truman edged ahead 7-4. Keck's kill ended the TSU run and Bell followed with another. Consecutive hitting errors by the Bulldogs boosted the Saints to an 8-7 edge. Keck tacked on a service ace for a 9-7 advantage and forced a Truman timeout. Bell and Abbie Schnell combined on a block for a 10-7 lead. Makenna Brauman notched a kill to push the Saints ahead 11-9. After a Truman point Koska had a kill and Kues followed with two straight for a 14-10 lead. Knadler pounded down an over pass as the Saints won their 10th match of the season.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Taylor Keck and Mikaela Kues - 17
Hitting Percentage: Grace Knadler - .320
Assists: Abbie Schnell - 49
Service Aces: Five players - 1
Digs: Taylor Hasbrook - 23
Blocks: Avery Bell - 3
 
Inside the Numbers
Four different Saints had at least 10 kills.
Maryville had four players record at least 10 digs in the match.
Taylor Keck (17K, 11D) and Abbie Schnell (49A, 11D) both recorded double-doubles.
The Saints hit .400 in the fifth set.
 
Records
Maryville: 10-13, 2-9 GLVC
Truman State: 5-19, 1-11 GLVC
 
What's Next?
The Saints stay on the road and face Quincy Saturday afternoon Saturday, Oct. 30.