Leavenworth, Kan.— Spire volleyball defeated Avila University 3-1 in home KCAC action Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Ryan Sports Center, winning 25-17, 25-14, 23-25, 25-16.
Sammy Jo Kirk led the Spires with 11 kills, while
Kaylee Kindall delivered 10 kills without an attack error, hit .400 and recorded six blocks.
Maddison Kruse and
Saige Hadley added nine kills apiece, and
Makenza Holly contributed seven kills and five blocks.
The Spires broke a 5-5 tie in the opening set, then turned a 7-6 advantage into a 15-6 lead with eight consecutive points. Kruse was electric tonight and capped that run with a solo block and later put down a kill off an
Addison Baker assist for a 24-14 lead. Avila saved three set points before a Davies service error ended the set. USM hit .385 with 17 kills in the opener.
The Spires trailed 5-3 early in the second set before moving ahead 8-6 on a three-point run capped by a
Hannah Weisz ace. The home squad closed the set with five straight points, including two Kruse kills. A McClanahan attack error secured the 25-14 finish and a two-set match lead as Avila hit minus-.062 in the set.
The Eagles built seven-point leads at 16-9 and 18-11 in the third set, but Saint Mary rallied after falling behind 23-17. Kindall was all over the court with a kill and a block and Kirk helped fuel five straight points on a big night, with an AU Sweet attack error bringing the Spires within 23-22. Another Sweet attack error later erased a set point and cut the deficit to 24-23 before Martin finished the set with a kill assisted by Byrd.
Holly's kill helped her team open a 9-2 lead in the fourth. After Avila closed to 12-8, the Spires answered with a Baker kill, a dominant Kindall solo block, another Weisz ace and a Kindall kill to stretch the margin to 16-8. Hadley reached match point with a kill assisted by
Kathryn VanSkiver, and Holly and Kruse combined to block McClanahan for the final point.
Baker finished with 38 assists, 18 digs and four kills, while Daniella Rivera-Perez anchored the back row with 32 digs. VanSkiver added 12 digs and
Dakotah Garcia had eight as USM totaled 96. Kruse contributed five blocks to the Spires' 12-3 advantage at the net. Avila finished with 41 kills and a .062 hitting percentage, led by Jones with 13 kills on .344 hitting.
Coming Up…
The Spires get to stay home all week as they prepare to host the Sterling College Warriors on Saturday, October 24 to cap off a weekend double header on the USM campus. USM volleyball will celebrate Future Spires Night and Dig Pink night in their match against the SC as set one is slated for 7 p.m. in the Ryan Sports Center.
