Maryville University Athletics

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA. – The Maryville University volleyball team nearly went a perfect 4-0 at the Flagler Invitational. After winning both Friday matches, the Saints swept Lees-McRae but narrowly dropped a five-set nailbiter to the host Flagler College.
 
Lees-McRae Recap
The Saints picked up their first sweep of the season as they rolled over Lees-McRae. Emma Keele continued her strong freshman season with 16 kills while hitting .306, and fellow frosh Natalie Frazier chipped in 11 kills. Mallory Sell came up with 20 digs to guide the defense.
 
In set one, the Saints stretched a 6-5 advantage out with an 8-0 burst. Longanbach started the surge with a kill, and added another kill and a block. A Lees-McRae error put the Saints up 14-5. Maryville stayed in front as Lees-McRae made a late push but kills by Frazier and Gillen closed out the win.
 
Leading 7-5 in the second set, the Saints used a 5-1 surge to take command. Keele put down a kill, and Frazier followed with a pair of terminations. Longanbach and Ella Domian tacked on kills for a 12-6 advantage. The margin grew to as much as 21-14. Lees-McRae got the deficit down to four but Keele notched back-to-back kills to win it 25-20.
 
The third set was close throughout as the Saints were only up 13-12 before a 5-1 run. Maryville received two service aces and help from Lees-McRae to make it 18-13. Kills by Domian and Frazier pushed the advantage to 20-14. Keele closed out the match with a kill at 25-19. The Saints hit .400 to punctuate the match.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Emma Keele - 16
Hitting Percentage: Emma Keele - .306
Assists: Taylor Reynolds - 18
Service Aces: three players - 1
Digs: Mallory Sell - 20
Blocks: Joanna Gillen and Leslie Longanbach - 2
 
Records
Maryville: 4-3
Lees-McRae: 0-7
 
Flagler Recap
In a battle of the Saints, Maryville won the opener before the hosts took the next two. Maryville grinded out a defensive set in the fourth to force a decisive set. Flagler led 6-4 before Domian had a kill, and Sell served up an ace to tie the score at 6-all. Flagler rebuilt a 9-6 edge but the Saints answered with kills by Frazier and Gillen. The deficit was 13-10 until an ace and a kill by Keele made it 13-12. Flagler earned a pair of match points but Tessa Arnott and an error by Flagler tied the score at 14-14. However, Flagler had consecutive kills to win the set and match 16-14.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Emma Keele - 12
Hitting Percentage: Joanna Gillen - .538
Assists: Taylor Reynolds - 24
Service Aces: Hannah Patton - 2
Digs: Mallory Sell - 22
Blocks: Joanna Gillen - 5
 
Records
Maryville: 4-4
Flagler: 6-2
 
WHAT'S UP NEXT:
The Saints trek to Kirksville, Mo., for a pair of matches Friday, Sept. 11, against Newman and a non-conference tilt against host Truman State.