Springfield, Ill. – The Maryville volleyball team lost in three sets to No. 6 Nebraska Kearney then took down host UIS in five sets at the Prairie Stars Classic in Springfield, Ill. UNK won 25-13, 25-11, 25-21 before the Saints rallied for a 25-14, 17-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-11 victory.
 
Nebraska Kearney Recap
Down early in the opener, the Saints reeled off four straight points to take the lead. Ella Brinkmann had a solo block and a kill to start the run, and UNK had back-to-back hitting errors for a 5-2 Maryville lead. The Saints stayed ahead at 9-6 before UNK scored six straight to jump ahead. Ella Domian put down a kill to halt the Lopers run. However, UNK went on a big burst to take the first set.
 
UNK began the second set with a burst and eventually went up by double digits to take control of the clash. In the third set, the Saints saw Lily Brown, Lynsey Batson and Brinkmann all put down kills. UNK tied the score by Leslie Longanbach's kill pushed the Saints back on top. The Lopers went ahead 13-12 before Brinkmann tied the set. Kills by Emma Hoing and Lily Brown built a 15-13 edge for the Saints. UNK scored four straight until Brown's kill made it 17-16. UNK rebuilt a 21-17 lead but the Saints answered. Longanbach had a kill and a block. After a UNK error, Domian's kill forced a 21-21 tie. The Lopers closed the set with the final four points and took the match. The Lopers have won all 26 sets they have played this season and remained unbeaten at 13-0.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Ella Brinkmann - 8
Hitting Percentage: Leslie Longanbach - .333
Assists: Taylor Reynolds - 13
Service Aces: Olivia Klump - 1
Digs: Olivia Klump - 17
Blocks: Leslie Longanbach - 2
 
Records
Maryville: 3-6
No. 6 Nebraska Kearney: 13-0
 
Illinois Springfield Recap
In the fifth set, the Saints took a 5-4 lead on a UIS ball handling error. The Prairie Stars came back with three straight points for a 7-5 advantage. The Saints rallied with three straight point and took the lead on a solo block by Longanbach for a 8-7 edge. The hosts tied the score but Witthaus had a kill and a ball handling error pushed the Saints back up 10-8. UIS scored a point but committed an error, and a Taylor Reynolds ace made it 12-9. The Stars got to within 13-11 but Witthaus and Brinkmann had consecutive kills for match point. A Witthaus ace ended the match.
 
Up 3-2 in the first set, the Saints scored four straight to pad their lead. After a UIS error, Cami Kohmetscher had a setter tip, and back-to-back kills by Hoing pushed the margin to 7-2. Maryville was still ahead at 13-10 before tacking on four straight points. Domian had two kills sandwiched around two UIS miscues for a 17-10 lead. The Saints took control with four straight points to win the opener.
 
The Stars took the next two sets before a close contest in the fourth. UIS took a 13-9 lead before the Saints answered with five of the next six points. Payton Mandac's kill started the run with a UIS error and an ace by Ellie Witthaus. The Saints tied it on a Stars error before a kill by Olivia Klump put the Saints ahead 14-13. The score was tied at 16-16 until the Saints scored four straight, capped by a Longanbach solo block for a 20-16 edge. Maryville held on to force a decisive fifth set.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Ella Brinkmann - 13
Hitting Percentage: Lynsey Batson - .417
Assists: Taylor Reynolds - 21
Service Aces: Taylor Reynolds - 3
Digs: Olivia Klump - 31
Blocks: Leslie Longanbach - 7
 
Records
Maryville: 4-6
Illinois Springfield: 6-4
 
What's Next?
The Saints begin Great Lakes Valley Conference play with a road contest at Truman State Friday, Sept. 26, with a 6 pm game in Kirksville, Mo.