St. Petersburg, Fla. – On the final day of the Eckerd College Classic, the Maryville volleyball team was narrowly edged out in five sets in both matches. The Saints fell to Ohio Dominican by a score line of 21-25, 25-21, 25-17, 23-25, 11-15 before dropping another contest that went the distance against host Eckerd 23-25, 26-24, 23-25, 25-19, 15-7. The Saints suffered three five-set losses in the tournament in St. Petersburg, Fla.
 
Ohio Dominican recap
Leslie Longanbach came up with 12 blocks, the third-highest total in a match in program history, and the most in the Division II era. Ella Brinkmann picked up another double-double on 17 kills and 16 digs to pace the offense, while Olivia Klump led five players in double figures digs with 22. The Saints defense held ODU to exactly a .000 hitting percentage in sets two and three to pull ahead. Ohio Dominican won set four to force the decisive fifth.
 
In the finale, the Saints scored six straight points to build a 6-1 lead. Ella Domian began the run with a kill, and Ellie Witthaus served an ace. After an ODU error, Brinkmann drilled down a kill, and Hailey Levinson posted a solo block and a kill for the five-point lead. ODU responded with seven straight points to jump ahead. Down 11-9, the Saints drew level at 11-all. However, ODU scored the final four points to end the contest.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Ella Brinkmann - 17
Hitting Percentage: Hailey Levinson - .227
Assists: Taylor Reynolds - 22
Service Aces: Ellie Witthaus - 3
Digs: Olivia Klump - 22
Blocks: Leslie Longanbach - 12
 
Records
Maryville: 1-2
Ohio Dominican: 2-1
 
Eckerd recap
The hosts took the opening set before the Saints worked extra points to even the match. Down 22-19 in set two, Maryville rallied to deadlock the match at 22. Tied at 24-24, Emma Hoing put down a kill to reach set point. An EC setting miscue capped the Saints comeback for a 26-24 win to tie the match at 1-1. The Tritons took a narrow decision in the third before the Saints regrouped in set four by holding EC to just a .000 hitting percentage. The Tritons scored the first three points before Ella Domian had two straight kills to bring the Saints to 4-3. EC tacked on four straight points until Longanbach put down a kill. Eckerd scored three unanswered points and held on for the win. Ella Brinkmann had her fourth straight double-double in the tournament with 13 kills and 16 digs.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Ella Brinkmann - 13
Hitting Percentage: Ellie Witthaus - .320
Assists: Taylor Reynolds - 20
Service Aces: three players - 1
Digs: Olivia Klump - 19
Blocks: Leslie Longanbach - 8
 
Records
Maryville: 1-3
Eckerd: 3-0
 
What's Next?
The Saints head to Pittsburg, Kan., for three matches at the Pitt State Classic, Sept. 11-12.