Bartlesville, Okla.— Spire volleyball lost 3-0 to Oklahoma Wesleyan University on Wednesday, October 14, at Mueller Sports Center in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The set scores were 28-26, 25-22 and 25-13.

USM rallied from a 20-14 deficit in the opening set, with Addison Baker's ace capping a four-point run. Sammy Jo Kirk and Kaylee Kindall combined on a block to tie the score at 21-21, and Kindall's ace later put the Spires ahead 23-22. Kirk's kill saved a set point at 24-24 before Maddison Kruse's solo block gave Saint Mary a 26-25 lead. Oklahoma Wesleyan scored the next three points, closing the set on a kill by Santa Cruz Cossich.

Makenza Holly fueled another comeback in the second set, recording three kills during a four-point run that erased a 10-6 deficit. After the Eagles built a 20-16 advantage, a block by Kruse and Kindall helped USM pull within 21-20. Kindall's kill cut the margin to 23-22, but a Rubio kill and a block by Santa Cruz Cossich and Grkinic secured the set for the hosts.

The Spires opened the third set with a 5-2 lead on a Holly kill assisted by Baker. OKWU answered with four consecutive points, taking the lead on an Widner ace. Kruse's kill from Kathryn Vanskiver brought USM to 13-21 before the hosts scored the final four points to complete the sweep.

Holly led Saint Mary with 10 kills and hit .286. Kindall added nine kills on .389 hitting, along with three block assists and an ace. Kruse finished with seven kills, a solo block and a block assist, while Baker directed the offense with 23 assists. The Spires recorded 11 kills in each of the first two sets and 10 in the third.

Daniella Rivera-Perez paced the Spires' back-row defense with seven digs. Vanskiver and Dakotah Garcia contributed six digs apiece, while Saige Hadley added five digs and three kills. Kirk finished with two block assists as USM totaled five team blocks. Baker, Kindall, Vanskiver and Hannah Weisz each served an ace.

Oklahoma Wesleyan held advantages of 46-32 in kills, 54-33 in digs and 8-4 in service aces, hitting .269 compared with USM's .148. Rubio led the hosts with 12 kills and three aces, while Laughlin supplied 35 assists and 13 digs. The Eagles closed with 14 kills and one attack error on 26 attempts in the third set, good for a .500 hitting percentage.

Coming Up…

The Spires will continue their long travels this Saturday, October 14^th as they head to York, Nebraska to take on the YU Panthers. The match is slated for a 2 p.m. start time as the KCAC regular season marches to the end.