Monticello, Ark. - The Maryville volleyball team began the 2023 season with an empathic opening day at the Blossom Classic hosted by the University of Arkansas Monticello Friday. The Saints rolled past Christian Brothers University 25-19, 25-8, 25-20, and ended the day with a scintillating five-set rally against Northern State for a 14-25, 25-27, 25-21, 25-22, 15-11 win. Maryville was down 9-3 in the fifth set before roaring all the way back. During the fifth set, Taylor Hasbrook went over the 1,000 digs mark for her career.
 
Christian Brothers recap
Against the Bucs, the Saints grabbed the early lead by scoring four of the first five points and never surrendered the advantage. CBU got as close as three points but the Saints pushed the margin to as many as seven points. In the second set, the Saints hit .357 while holding the Bucs to a -.062 hitting percentage. In the final set, CBU led 17-16 before an error tied the game. The Saints stretched the margin to 20-17 and closed out the sweep. Ella Brinkman paced the Saints with 14 kills and hit .500 while tying her career best with five aces. Hasbrook dug up 20 attempts.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Ella Brinkmann - 14
Hitting Percentage: Ella Brinkmann - .500
Assists: Abbie Schnell - 15
Service Aces: Ella Brinkmann - 5
Digs: Taylor Hasbrook - 20
Blocks: Hanna Dressing and Caroline Glastetter - 2
 
Records
Maryville: 1-0
Christian Brothers: 0-1
 
Northern State recap
The Wolves took set one and edged the Saints in set two to put Maryville in difficulty. The Saints used a 6-0 run early in the third set and hit .257 to begin the comeback and get to within 2-1. In the fourth, NSU led 13-11 before the Saints reeled for four straight points to edge ahead. Holding a one-point lead, Maryville jumped ahead 18-14. Northern State pulled back to two points but a kill by Brinkmann forced a fifth and final set.
 
In the decisive run to 15 points, NSU scored the opening five points. Caroline Glastetter put down a kill to get the Saints on the board but Maryville looked like its big comeback might fall short at 9-3. The teams traded points at 10-4 before Brinkmann's kill sparked a run of three straight. After an NSU effort, Hasbrook served an ace to trim the deficit to 10-7. The Wolves scored to make it 11-7 but the Saints had an emphatic answer. Hanna Dressing pounded down a kill that started a sparkling 8-0 spree that ended the match. After two errors by NSU, Glastetter finished off a pass from Abbie Schnell that tied the set at 11-11. Maryville's pressure forced back-to-back NSU errors for a 13-11 lead. Brinkmann had a kill that pulled the Saint to match point, and Glastetter capped the stunning comeback with a kill in the middle of the court.
 
Glastetter had 18 kills and a .412 hitting percentage, while Brinkmann matched her with 18 kills, too, and completed a double-double with 19 digs. Hasbrook finished with 26 digs, while Schnell finished with 32 assists.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Ella Brinkmann and Caroline Glastetter - 18
Hitting Percentage: Caroline Glastetter - .412
Assists: Abbie Schnell - 32
Service Aces: Rachel Schipper and Taylor Hasbrook - 2
Digs: Taylor Hasbrook - 26
Blocks: Makenna Brauman - 3
 
Records
Maryville: 2-0
Northern State: 0-1
 
 What's Next
The Saints look to stay unbeaten as they finish the tournament Saturday with an 11 a.m. match against host Arkansas-Monticello and a 3 p.m. non-conference clash versus Truman State.