ST. CHARLES, MO.  – Despite a career-high 19 kills from Luke Kraft, the Maryville men's volleyball team challenged Lindenwood but was narrowly defeated in a 25-17, 24-26, 25-22, 30-28 battle. Makai Scott led the Saints with a season-high 20 kills, while Kraft hit .500 while committing just one error. Setter Ethan Beyreis-Heim dished out a career-best 45 assists to direct the Maryville offense. The Saints dropped the contest despite hitting .395 in the match with 55 kills versus just eight errors.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Saints stormed out of the gates and tallied four of the first five points of the match. Kraft's kill put the Saints on top, and Cameron Lee followed. An error by the Lions gave Maryville a 4-1 edge. The teams traded points until the score was tied 8-8. Kraft's solo block put the Saints back ahead 9-8 before the Lions scored five of the next six points to jump ahead. The Saints got back to within 13-11 but the Lions tallied four straight to take the opening set. Both teams hit at least .500 in a sparkling display of offense, and the Saints committed just one error.
 
Set two saw the Lions with the quick start as the hosts took a 4-1 lead. The Saints inched closer and were still only down 7-5. Scott's kill chopped the deficit to 9-6 before LU tallied four of the next five points. The Saints answered with their own 4-1 run. Scott had a kill and he teamed with AJ Robateau on a block. Scott hammered down two more kills as Maryville pulled to within 18-14. It was still 21-17 before an LU miscue and back-to-back kills by Kraft and Scott brought the Saints to within one point at 21-20. The Lions scored a point before the Saints roared ahead with three consecutive points. After an LU error, Scott recorded a kill and a solo rejection by Kraft pushed the Saints ahead 23-22. The teams traded points before Scott had a kill, and a Lindenwood hitting error gave Maryville the 26-24 win.
 
Down 4-3 in the third, the Saints bolted into the lead on the legs of a 4-0 run. Kraft had two kills to key the burst. Later, Kevin Doran had a kill, and after a Kraft termination, an LU error handed the Saints a 10-5 advantage. Maryville stayed ahead and were leading 17-13 following a kill by Lee and a Lindenwood error. A Scott kill was good for an 18-15 lead but the Lions scored four straight. Maryville retook the lead following kills by Kraft and Robateau at 20-19. However, the Lions scored five of the next six points and grabbed the set 25-22.
 
Set four was close throughout and was tied at 7-7 until Lindenwood scored three of the next four points. The Saints were town 15-11 but used a 3-1 spree to gather back to within 16-14. Setter Ethan Beyreis-Heim tipped in a kill, and a block by Doran drew the Saints to 19-17. Lindenwood went back up by a 23-18 scoreline until Maryville tallied three straight. Scott had a kill, Lee served an ace and Kraft's kill made it 23-21. The Lions had match point but the Saints reeled off three straight points. Scott had a kill, and Doran spun in an ace. An LU error tied the set at 24-24. The Saints saved four more set points before the Lions finally prevailed.

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kills: Makai Scott - 20
Hitting Percentage: Luke Kraft - .500
Assists: Ethan Beyreis-Heim - 45
Service Aces: Kevin Doran - 2
Digs: Makai Scott - 8
Blocks: Luke Kraft and Makai Scott - 3
 
RECORDS
Maryville: 1-5
Lindenwood: 3-3
 
What's Next?
The Saints kick off a three-match homestand Tuesday, Feb. 4, as they host Missouri Baptist at 7 p.m. in Moloney Arena for the latest edition of the "Conway Clash." Read Full Article