LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – The University of Saint Mary volleyball team fell in straight sets to McPherson College and in four sets to Ottawa University Saturday afternoon inside the Ryan Sports Center.

Saint Mary is 0-8 overall and 0-8 in the KCAC this season.

MCPHERSON MATCH
McPherson scored the first two points of the first set against the Spires. The Spires would climb back and broke a 12-5 lead, cutting the deficit to three at 16-13. Later in the set, the Spires found themselves down 21-15. However, the Spires answer back by a kill from Kiara Pena to cut the deficit down 21-16. The Bulldogs would hold the Spires to just one point to win the first set 25-17.

McPherson would start hot scoring the first four points in the second set. The Spires would come back to tie the set 4-4 after a block by Hana Ronnebaum and Kelsey Huggans. The Spires and Bulldogs continued to battle back and forth, with both teams working their way to a 22-22 tie. The Bulldogs would hold the Spires to just one more point to win the third set 25-23.

The Bulldogs would start the third set with a 3-0 lead before the Spires would come back to tie the game at 3-3. Both teams battled back and forth until the Bulldogs gained a four-point lead against the Spires 20-16. However, the Spires would answer back, scoring three more points, and cut the deficit by one point after Haydan Heuermann's service ace, 20-19. The Bulldogs then held the Spires to just two more points to win the third set 25-21.

Rylee Kenitzer led the team with eight kills and Heuermann tallied 19 assists. Keishla Reyes chipped in a team high 25 digs.

OTTAWA MATCH
Saint Mary had themselves a battle against Ottawa in the nightcap. In the first set, Ottawa answered first with a kill executed by Ryleigh Burdick, 1-0. The Spires answered back and went on a hot streak increasing their lead by 12 points, 21-9. With the large lead, the Spires only allowed Ottawa to score six more points to win the first set, 25-16.

The Spires battled with Ottawa the second set which both teams exchanged points. Ottawa answered first but the Spires answered right back tying the game, 3-3. The Spires battled back and gained the largest lead of set two by three points, 9-6. Ottawa answered back and tied the game 21-21 after back and forth action by both teams. Ottawa was able to hold the Spires to just one more point to win the second set, 25-22.

The third set was controlled by Ottawa most of the game with the Spires struggling to score points. Ottawa was able to hold the Spires to just 10 points to win the third set, 25-10.

Ottawa answered first in the fourth set by a kill executed by Ayona Tharps, 1-0. The Spires took no time to answer back by taking the lead from a kill executed by Hannah Vanriette assisted by Hana Ronnebaum, 3-2. Ottawa eventually gained the lead by three points changing the score, 11-8. The Spires battled and were able to cut the lead to two points from a service error by Myla Turner, 18-16. Ottawa was able to hold the Spires to just two more points to win the game, 25-20.

Kenitzer had a team high 13 kills and Heuermann recorded 18 assists. Reyes had a team high 27 digs.

UP NEXT
The Spires will host Sterling College Wednesday in the Ryan Sports Center at 5 p.m.