Lebanon, Ill. - The Maryville volleyball team started the Bearcat Invitational with a sparkling reverse sweep of host McKendree before getting tripped up by No. 5 Missouri-St. Louis in a pair of non-conference contests. The Saints rallied for a 27-29, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 17-15 thriller in the first match Friday, but lost a 25-14, 25-21, 25-19 decision against the nationally-ranked Tritons. Ella Brinkmann registered a double-double in both matches to pace the Maryville attack.
 
McKendree recap
The Saints found themselves down 2-0 in sets but started their rally in set three. Trailing 11-10, the Saints went on a 7-1 run to surge ahead. Grace Knadler was a part of three straight blocks with Makenna Brauman and Grace Graham. McKendree pulled to within 13-12 but a Caroline Glastetter kill sparked a 4-0 burst for a 17-12 lead. The Saints eventually took the set 25-21. In set four, Brinkmann had the first of three kills in a 5-0 run. Taylor Hasbrook served two aces as Maryville's margin grew to 17-10. A McKendree error made it 19-11 as the Saints eventually forced a fifth set.
 
Neither team led by more than two points in set five. The squads traded 2-0 runs as a Brinkmann kill put the Saints ahead 12-11. Maryville was up 13-12 after a Glastetter kill but McKendree scored two straight to get to 14-13 and match point. A Brinkmann kill saved the match for a 14-14 tie, and a tip by Leslie Longanbach gave the Saints their own match point. McKendree tied the score at 15-15, but the Bearcats committed a service error, and Graham's kill down the line capped the stirring rally for the Saints at 17-15. Brinkmann nearly had a 20-20 match with 19 kills and 24 digs. Graham finished with 11 kills, while Hasbrook added 22 digs.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Ella Brinkmann - 19
Hitting Percentage: Grace Knadler - .294
Assists: Abbie Schnell - 32
Service Aces: Taylor Hasbrook - 4
Digs: Ella Brinkmann - 24
Blocks: Makenna Brauman - 5
 
Records
Maryville: 6-2
McKendree: 5-3
 
UMSL recap
Down 5-4 in the opener, Regina Elguezabal had a ball fall in for a kill to tie the score. After an UMSL error, Brauman and Knadler had a block for a 7-5 lead. Maryville's margin was 8-6 after a Brinkmann kill but the Tritons scored five straight to retake the lead. Another Brinkmann termination made it 14-10 but the Saints never got any closer than three points.
 
The second set saw UMSL up 12-10 before the Saints reeled off four straight. After a Brinkmann kill, Hanna Dressing drilled down three straight kills for a 14-12 advantage. The Tritons edged in front at 16-15 until the Saints scored four unanswered points. Glastetter tied the score, and she and Dressing had a block. After a Brinkmann ace, Graham's kill gave Maryville a 19-16 cushion. The Tritons retook a 20-19 edge until a Dressing solo block tied the set at 20-20. However, the Tritons scored five of the last six points for a 2-0 lead.
 
Hannah Scrum served consecutive aces at the Saints took an early 5-1 advantage in set three. Dressing's kill was good for an 8-4 margin UMSL tied the score at 8-all. The Tritons edged to a small lead and were still up 18-17 but went on a 4-1 and closed out the match.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Ella Brinkmann - 11
Hitting Percentage: Hanna Dressing - .500
Assists: Abbie Schnell - 16
Service Aces: Hannah Scrum - 2
Digs: Taylor Hasbrook - 22
Blocks: Ella Brinkmann and Leslie Longanbach - 4
 
Records
Maryville: 6-3
Missouri-St. Louis: 10-0
 
What's Next?
The Saints take on Harding University Saturday at 2 p.m. to close out the Bearcat Invitational.