ROLLA, Mo. — Missouri S&T women's volleyball challenged nationally recognized RV Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday, keeping each set close in a 25-22, 25-22, 25-20 loss to the Tritons. The Miners held the advantage in both serving and blocking, recording eight aces and 12 blocks compared to three aces and three blocks for UMSL.
The Miners posted a higher hitting percentage than the Tritons in the opening set, holding UMSL to a .149 mark. After trailing early, S&T took its first lead at 7-6 on a 3-0 run sparked by a kill from Elly Decker (Manhattan, IL/Lincoln-Way West). The Tritons regained the lead and went ahead 14-11, but the Miners responded with another 3-0 run. UMSL's offense continued to produce, building a 21-17 advantage late in the set. A solo block by Kate Zipprich (Hardin, IL/Calhoun) pulled S&T within one at 23-22, but the Tritons closed out the set with a block and a kill.
Decker helped S&T establish a 7-4 lead in the second set, recording three kills and an ace during the early stretch. UMSL rallied to tie the score at 7-7 before the Miners claimed eight of the next nine points to build a 15-8 advantage, doing so with three aces and three blocks during the run. After the Tritons cut the deficit to three, kills by Decker and Danielle Wilke (Palmer Lake, CO/Palmer Ridge) extended the Miners' lead to 18-12. S&T maintained a 22-17 advantage before UMSL mounted a decisive comeback, scoring eight consecutive points to take the set 25-22.
The Tritons opened the third set with five straight points, but the Miners quickly fought back. Three kills from Smith and a pair of aces helped S&T erase the deficit and tie the score at 11-11. UMSL responded by retaking the lead and going up 22-16, but Decker fueled a 4-0 run by recording a kill and an ace to bring the Miners within two at 22-20. The Tritons then scored three of the final four points to secure the 3-0 victory.
Mining the Numbers
- The Miners recorded season highs for both blocks per set (4.0) as well as aces per set in a GLVC match (2.67).
- Maggie Miller (Gretna, NE/Gretna) matched her career-best for aces in a match, picking up three.
- Zipprich set a new career-high for blocks in a match, ending the day with nine for an average of 3.0 blocks per set.
What's Next
S&T awaits the announcement of their schedule for the Midwest Region Crossover, which will feature a trio of matches in Hammond, Indiana next week.
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