Maryville University Athletics

LEBANON, Ill. – After taking the first two sets, the Maryville University volleyball team was unable to hold off Harding in the second match of the McKendree Invitational and dropped a taut five-set match. The Saints won the opening two sets 25-21 and 25-20 before Harding rallied to win the final three sets 25-10, 25-17, 20-18.
 
How it Happened
In the fifth set, the Bisons jumped out to a quick 8-3 lead before the Saints rallied to tie the score. The Maryville defense forced two straight errors before Emma Keele put down a kill. Leslie Longanbach posted a solo block and Harding committed another hitting error as the Saints tied the score at 8-8. The Bisons rebuilt a 10-8 lead until the Saints surged ahead with three straight points, capped by a block by Hailey Levinson and Ella Domian. Tied at 11-11, the Saints jumped ahead with three straight points. Keele had a kill, and Levinson tacked on a kill. Taylor Reynolds served an ace as the Saints got to match point at 14-11. However, Harding saved three-in-a-row and tied the set at 14-14. The contest was tied four more times, the last at 18-18 before the Bisons tallied two straight to end the match.
 
The Saints held Harding to a .128 hitting percentage to take the opening set, while Maryville notched its best hitting mark of the match in the second with a .324 kills rate. The Bisons came back to win sets three and four as the Maryville offense could not generate runs as the match moved into the decisive fifth set.
 
Reynolds had a double-double with 25 assists and 10 digs. Levinson and Keele both finished with nine kills apiece, while Mallory Sell recorded 22 digs, the second highest total of her career.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Tessa Arnott - 11
Hitting Percentage: Hailey Levinson - .280
Assists: Taylor Reynolds - 25
Service Aces: Emma Keele - 3
Digs: Mallory Sell - 22
Blocks: Leslie Longanbach - 5
 
Records
Maryville: 0-2
Harding: 2-0
 
WHAT'S UP NEXT:
The Saints close out the McKendree Invitational Saturday with a pair of contests. Maryville faces Ouachita Baptist at 9 a.m. and then takes on Montevallo at 4:30 p.m.