Frankfort, Ky. – The Maryville women's volleyball team opened the 2022 season with two straight victories on day one at the Kentucky State Invitational. The Saints rallied past Edinboro 3-1 and posted a sweep against host KSU 3-0. Ella Brinkmann totaled 26 kills in the two matches, while Caroline Glastetter finished with 20. Abbie Schnell handed out 46 assists, while Brinkmann notched 28 digs.
 
Edinboro recap                         
The Saints posted the win by set scores of 22-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-20. After losing set one, the Saints took a 7-6 lead in the second and evened the score at 1-1. Maryville scored five of six points to jump out to a 7-3 lead. Edinboro closed to 15-14 but the Saints took control with four straight points. Maryville had its best hitting percentage in the fourth with a .387 mark. The edge stood at just 16-15 but the Saints went on a 5-1 run and eventually closed out the contest. Maryville held the Fighting Scots to just a .074 team hitting percentage.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Ella Brinkmann - 17
Hitting Percentage: Karolina Rodowski - .364
Assists: Abbie Schnell - 24
Service Aces: Rachel Schipper - 3
Digs: Ella Brinkmann - 18
Blocks:  Ella Kosky - 4
 
Records
Maryville: 1-0
Edinboro: 0-1
 
Kentucky State recap
The Saints dominated from the start and cruised to the 25-9, 25-15, 25-17 victory over host KSU. Brinkmann and Taylor Keck both finished with nine kills apiece, while Keck hammered down a .467 hitting percentage. The Saints scored the opening two points and six of the first seven to take early control. Maryville went up 14-4 and eased to a 1-0 lead. The Saints again jumped out with a burst by tallying the first five points of the second set. KSU closed to within one but Maryville never gave up the lead. The third set started in the Saints favor with the first four points and six of the opening seven. Kentucky State closed to within 9-8 but the Saints re-established with a 5-0 burst and closed out the match. The Saints hit .309 in the match, including .458 in set one, while holding KSU to under .100 in all three sets.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Ella Brinkmann and Taylor Keck - 9
Hitting Percentage: Taylor Keck - .467
Assists: Abbie Schnell - 22
Service Aces: Abbie Schnell - 4
Digs: Ella Brinkmann - 10
Blocks:  Lynsey Batson - 2
 
Records
Maryville: 2-0
Kentucky State: 1-1
 
What's Next?
The Saints close out the Kentucky State Invitational with two more matches Saturday, August 27. Maryville faces Ohio Dominican and West Alabama in Frankfort, Ky.