ST. LOUIS –The Maryville men's volleyball team won its fifth straight contest with a 26-24, 25-19, 26-24 battle over University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy. Makai Scott led the way with 13 kills and hit .414, while Aidan Whitemountain added nine kills.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a close early portion of set one, the Saints found themselves down 14-12. Maryville responded with four straight. Jake Usher started the run with a kill, and UHSP committed an error. Scott hammered down a kill to put the Saints ahead, and another UHSP miscue made it 16-14. The Eutectics edged back ahead 20-19 but Scott and Whitemountain had kills before another hitting error by UHSP handed the Saints a 22-20. UHSP eventually tied the score at 23-23. The teams traded points before the Saints tallied two straight. Scott's kill earned a set point and a final UHSP swing flew wide for a 26-24 win.
 
UHSP led 9-8 until the Saints charged in front. After two straight UHSP errors, Jake Usher served an ace. Consecutive kills by Whitemountain and Makai Nzioki pushed the Saints ahead 13-9. The set was tied at 16-16 before the Saints took control. Scott hammered a kill and served an ace to spark a 5-0 run, and AJ Robateau posted two solo blocks as Maryville sprinted ahead 21-16. The Saints would still lead 23-19 before closing out the set Scott's kill and another by Luke Martinez ended proceedings at 25-19.
 
The Saints grabbed their first led in set three at 13-12 but the score was tied at 16-16. Maryville tallied five of the next six points. Scott had a kill, and after a UHSP error, Nzioki had a kill. Later, a Scott kill made it 21-17. USHP tied the set and the score remained tied three more times. At 24-all, the Saints finally broke though and won the match on consecutive UHSP errors closed the contest.

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kills: Makai Scott - 13
Hitting Percentage: Luke Martinez - .556
Assists: Jake Usher - 30
Service Aces: five players - 1
Digs: Zac Clark - 8
Blocks: AJ Robateau - 2
 
RECORDS
Maryville: 5-5
UHSP: 7-6
 
What's Next?
The Saints begin their inaugural season of Great Lakes Valley Conference play at Southwest Baptist in a match Friday, March 6.