LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – The University of Saint Mary volleyball team survived a five-set thriller as they hosted Sterling College tonight, winning 3-2 in the Ryan Sports Center for their first win of the season.

Saint Mary is 1-8 overall and 1-8 in the KCAC this season.

Both teams split the first two sets with Sterling taking a 25-15 win and the Spires taking set two, 25-22. Sterling would take a 10-7 lead to start the third set before Jessica Malizzi trimmed it to two with a kill. Saint Mary would fall behind 22-15 before taking a 2-1 advantage winning the third set 25-16. The Spires would dominate the fourth set as they held a 12-5 lead after a kill from Haydan Heuermann.

Saint Mary went up 18-11 in the set before ending the frame on a 7-0 run. The Spires then fought off Sterling in the fifth set 15-11 to earn their first win of the season.
Rylee Kenitzer led the team with 12 kills and Hana Ronnebaum had 11 kills. Heuermann accumulated 45 assists and 11 digs.

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Saint Mary is scheduled to travel to Bartlesville, Okla. on Saturday to take on Oklahoma Wesleyan and Bethel at 1 and 3 p.m.