Springfield, Mo.- The Univeristy of Saint Mary Women's Volleyball team traveled to take on the Evangel Valor on Wednesday night, resulting in a 3-2 loss. The Spires are now 14-6 overall and 3-2 in conference play. 

Set one was a back-and-forth battle between the Spires and Evangel, featuring four lead changes. Devyn Ford sparked a 6-1 run for Saint Mary, giving them a decisive 15-12 lead. Back-to-back kills from Keagan Shockley helped make it an 18-14 lead over the Valor. Rylee Kenitzer and Ainsley Gardner closed out Evangel for a 25-23 win.

Saint Mary took an early lead in set two thanks to an 8-2 run capped off by a kill from Madison Folsom. The Valor kept it close throughout the middle of the set, and a late run brought them within two points of the Spires. Errors by Evangel and another kill from Shockley gave Saint Mary their second win of the night and a 2-0 lead. 

However, the Valor ran away with sets three and four to force a fifth and final set. Kenitzer got things going for Saint Mary, and they built a 14-8 lead that seemed to put away the Valor. Evangel scored eight unanswered points to come back and beat the Spires. Shockley led Saint Mary with 16 kills on the night. 

Up Next

The Spires will be on the road to play Bethany College at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Lindsborg, Kansas.