Sterling, Kan.- In the Spires first match of the day in the Sterling College tri on Saturday, October 25th, USM clinched another conference victory over the Sterling College Warriors. The final score stood at University of Saint Mary 3, Sterling College 1.

The Spires have really thrived off of setting a dominant tone early, and today was no exception. The first set saw the Spires taking a 25-19 win, driven by strong performances, particularly from Saige Hadley and Chloe Byrd. Continuing this momentum, the Spires managed another strong victory in the second set with a score of 25-18.

However, the Sterling College Warriors fought back, claiming the third set 25-20. This comeback highlighted the competitive spirit of the Warriors but wasn't enough to deter the calm, cool, and collected Spires who confidently won the fourth set 25-15, securing the overall match in their favor.

Key athletes for the Spires included Saige Hadley, who dominated both offensively and defensively tallying 19 kills and 2 blocks. Chloe Byrd and MJ Stephens also contributed significantly with 9 kills each. On the defensive end, senior Gabby Kurle lead with an impressive 31 digs, anchoring USM on the defensive end. Additionally, the effectiveness of the Spires' serve was crucial with Morgan Herrera leading six aces, contributing substantially to USM's success in the match.

The teamwork displayed by the Spires was further complemented by strategic assists with familiar name, Morgan Herrera delivering 24 assists and Addison Baker providing 20.
On the second match of the day, USM again added another win against Haskell University Indian Nations. The Spires triumphed over Haskell with a final score of 3-0, maintaining their strong season record of 21-7 (7-2 in KCAC).

The match stayed relatively competitive throughout the afternoon, starting off strong in the first where Saint Mary edged out Haskell with a 25-21 score. Momentum continued in their favor as the Spires dominated the second set, winning with a much more comfortable margin of 25-15. The third set proved challenging but the Spires managed to clinch the match with a 25-23 victory, completing the sweep.

Key athletes and familiar names for the Spires included Ainsley Gardner, who led the team with 14 kills and 3 blocks, and Sophia Frerking, who contributed 10 kills and matched Gardner's 3 blocks. Makenza Holly also added 8 kills to the team's tally. On the defensive end, Gabby Kurle showcased exceptional skills with 27 digs and contributed 1 ace, pivotal in sustaining momentum. Ava Bojanski and Dakotah Garcia added 18 and 8 digs, respectively.

The match continued to highlight effective teamwork in terms of assists, with Morgan Herrera distributing 18 assists and Addison Baker closely following with 17 assists. The coordinated effort was evident in the Spires' strategic plays and consistent pressure, which Haskell struggled to counter.

The Spires are headed into the home stretch of regular season play and are set to face Evangel University Valor (8-1 in KCAC) in Leavenworth at The Ryan Sports Center on Wednesday, October 29^th at 7:00 p.m.