St. Louis – The Maryville women's volleyball team opened its 2023 home and Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule with a 3-1 victory over Illinois Springfield Friday. The Saints eased to a 25-12, 22-25, 25-22, 25-19 decision Friday evening in Moloney Arena. Ella Brinkmann recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs, while Makenna Brauman and Caroline Glastetter both finished with nine kills. Leslie Longanbach hit .333 with seven kills and a team-high seven blocks as the Saints posted 13 team blocks on the night.
 
UIS recap
The Maryville defense dominated the first set and held UIS to a -.053 hitting percentage. The Saints edged out to an 8-4 advantage but took control with a 6-0 burst. Brinkmann started the run, and UIS committed an error. After a kill by Longanbach, another UIS miscue handed the Saints a double-digit lead at 14-4. Maryville used a 4-0 run and closed out the opening set. UIS had its best hitting percentage while the Saints had their lowest of the night as the Prairie Stars pulled even in sets 1-1.
 
The teams traded the lead for the early part of set three but UIS grabbed a 14-12 margin. The Saints answered with four-in-a-row. After a UIS miscue, Brinkmann tied the score with a kill. The Prairie Stars hit a ball wide, before Grace Knadler and Brinkmann had a block for a 16-14 edge. The Saints kept a narrow lead and Knadler's kill ended the set 25-22.
 
The Saints extended a 10-9 lead with four straight points. Glastetter, Taylor Keck and Knadler had kills, and a UIS hitting error made it 14-9. The Prairie Stars tied the set at 14-14 but Maryville went on another 4-0 run. Knadler finished a pass from Abbie Schnell, and Brinkmann put up a solo block. Two more UIS errors put the Saints on top 18-14. The Maryville led never dipped below three, and a Knadler kill ended the match 25-19.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Ella Brinkmann - 12
Hitting Percentage: Grace Knadler - .600
Assists: Abbie Schnell - 25
Service Aces: Taylor Hasbrook - 2
Digs: Taylor Hasbrook - 21
Blocks: Leslie Longanbach - 7
 
Records
Maryville: 8-3, 1-0 GLVC
UIS: 3-8, 0-1 GLVC
 
What's Next?
The Saints are right back in action in Moloney Arena as Quincy visits for a 3 p.m. match Saturday, Sept. 23.