KIRKSVILLE, MO. – Despite double-doubles from Ella Brinkmann and Ellie Witthaus, the Maryville volleyball team fell in its Great Lakes Valley Conference opener in four sets at Truman State. The Bulldogs prevailed 25-20, 16-25, 28-26, 25-22. Brinkmann finished with 16 kills and 12 digs, while the freshman Witthaus notched 11 kills and a season-high 22 digs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Truman won the opening set with its highest hitting percentage of the match but the Saints rebounded to take set two.
 
Maryville had its best hitting mark of the night with a .311 kill percentage in the set. The Saints screamed out of the gate by scoring the first seven points to take a lead they would not surrender. TSU opened the set with an error, and Brinkmann followed with a kill on three of the next four points. Ella Domian tacked on a kill, and another Truman hitting error built a 7-0 lead. The hosts finally scored and chipped away at the Maryville margin. Truman got as close as 12-8 but the Saints stretched the lead back to 15-8 on a Witthaus kill and ace, followed by a block by Domian and Lynsey Batson. The Bulldogs never got closer than six points the rest of the set.
 
Maryville held a narrow edge for most of set three but surged ahead with three straight points. Witthaus put down a kill, and after a TSU error, Taylor Reynolds' ace made it 21-15. However, Truman used a late run to tie the set at 22-all. A kill by Domian and a Truman setting error earned the Saints two set points. The Bulldogs forged a tie at 24-24 until the Saints reached set point again at 26-25. TSU came back with three straight points to grab the set late.
 
Truman built a small lead before the Saints tied the set at 9-9 on a Brinkmann ace. Maryville went up after a kill by Brinkmann and a Truman error for a 17-16 lead. Leslie Longanbach and Payton Mandac posted back-to-back kills for a 20-19 edge but the Bulldogs scored five straight points. The Saints saved to match points following kills by Mandac and Caroline Glastetter but Truman held on for the win.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Ella Brinkmann - 16
Hitting Percentage: Leslie Longanbach - .368
Assists: Taylor Reynolds - 27
Service Aces: Ella Brinkmann and Taylor Reynolds - 3
Digs: Olivia Klump - 24
Blocks: Lynsey Batson - 5
 
Records
Maryville: 4-7, 0-1 GLVC
Truman State: 4-9, 1-0 GLVC
 
What's Next?
The Saints stay on the road and head to Fayette, Iowa, for a 5 p.m. match at Upper Iowa Saturday, Sept. 27.