Leavenworth, Kan. – It was a career night for the University of Saint Mary volleyball team all around as Katy Koepke eclipsed 1,000 career digs, along with Bianca Asheim and Cali Odom setting career highs in kills to help the Spires battle back and defeat York College, 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 24-26, 25-14, 15-9) inside the Ryan Sports Center Wednesday evening.
The Spires are now 12-10 overall and 3-1 in the KCAC.
GAME FLOW:
Saint Mary kept it close in the first game, going back and forth with the Panthers until the very end when the Spires pulled away with the win by three points. Cody Offerle and Asheim combined for three straight kills all assisted by Bailey Wright.
The Spires held onto the lead the for the majority of the second set. The Spires took a lead 3-2 when Offerle earned a service ace to ignite a run for the Spires and keep the lead till the Panthers came back and tied it at 23-23. The Spires could not get a rhythm going in the latter half of the set, as they dropped it 25-23.
The Spires kept the third set very close with the points going back and forth. Until the score was tied at 20-20, Odom earned a kill followed by another kill from Offerle with an assist by Koepke making it 21-20. However, the fight was not over as it came down to the end with the Panthers taking the set 26-24.
The Spires then started to battle back as they would take the fourth set with a 25-14 win. The Panthers committed some errors to help the Spires tie the match at two sets apiece.
In the Fifth set, the Spires' momentum continued as they jumped out to a 6-0 lead, which propelled them to the fifth and decisive set.
KEY STATISTICS
- Asheim and Odom each recorded career highs of 19 and 16 kills respectively.
- Ashley Van Gieson (25) and Wright (18) combined for 43 assists.
- Koepke eclipsed 1,000 career digs with a season high 33.
- Saint Mary totaled nine total blocks on defense.
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE SPIRES
Saint Mary continues its home stand against Friends University on Friday night. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
