Omaha, Neb.—

Game One:

Spire volleyball faced two tough battles on day one in Omaha, Nebraska at the College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic. Facing the No. 11 ranked Dakota Wesleyan Tigers as USM was defeated in straight sets, 25-18, 25-17, 27-25. The Spires challenged the Tigers with 52 digs and five total blocks, but Dakota Wesleyan used decisive runs in the first two sets before turning away two set points in the third.

Saint Mary made a strong start, scoring three consecutive points to take a 7-4 lead in the opening set. Dakota Wesleyan changed the energy of the set with 10 unanswered points, including three straight service aces by Hybertson, to move ahead 14-7. USM would battle, but ultimately could not erase the deficit, and DWU's Grimsrud closed the 25-18 set with a kill.

The teams split the first six points of the second set, with Emma Murphy putting down two early kills for the Spires. Dakota Wesleyan then broke the 3-3 tie with a nine-point run and carried the resulting advantage to a 25-17 win. Through two sets, the Tigers' serving pressure and attack efficiency had helped them build a 2-0 match lead.

USM delivered its best offensive set in the third, hitting .245 and pushing the Tigers beyond the regulation 25-point mark. Kaylee Kindall opened the set with a kill as USM took a 3-0 lead, and Maddison Kruse later put away a kill to tie the score at 11. A kill by Saint Mary ahead, Kaylee Kindall produced a set-point opportunity at 24-22. After Dakota Wesleyan tied it, Kindall struck again to give her squad another set point at 25-24.

Dakota Wesleyan answered with the final three points. Grimsrud recorded consecutive kills to put the Tigers in front, and a block on the final rally secured the 27-25 set and the sweep.

Kaylee Kindall led USM with seven kills on .467 hitting while contributing an ace, a solo block and three digs. Maddison Kruse also had seven kills, and Makenza Holly added five kills, one solo block and two block assists. Addison Baker directed the offense with 15 assists and added nine digs, while Dakotah Garcia collected a team-high 15 digs. Dakota Wesleyan finished with a 48-33 advantage in kills and hit .275 compared with .103 for the Spires.

Game Two:

In the final match of day one, the Dordt Defenders outlasted a tough Spire squad 3-2, winning 25-10, 25-27, 25-14, 21-25, 15-9. USM overcame a difficult opening set and twice answered a Dordt set victory, but DU pulled away after an early tie in the fifth to secure the match.

Dordt scored the first eight points of the opening set and hit .438 on its way to a 25-10 win. The Spires responded with the match's biggest comeback in the second set. Trailing 23-15, Saint Mary reeled off eight consecutive points to tie the score. After the teams traded points to 25-25, Kaylee Kindall delivered a kill for a 26-25 lead, and a service ace completed the 27-25 victory.

USM carried that momentum into the third set and took a 7-4 advantage, but the Defenders answered with six straight points before pulling away for a 25-14 win. Facing another one-set deficit, the Spires leaned on its blocking and serving to build a 15-8 lead in the fourth. Dordt rallied to draw even at 21-21, but Saint Mary claimed the final four points. Consecutive kills from Makenza Holly, Maddison Kruse and Sammy Jo Kirk restored the lead before an attack error finished the 25-21 set.

The deciding set was tied 4-4 before Dordt used a 7-2 run to move in front 11-6. Try as they might, USM could not close the gap, and the Defenders ended the fifth set on an attack error for a 15-9 victory. Dordt finished with 68 kills and a .217 hitting percentage, including a .421 mark in the final set, while the Spires recorded 30 kills and hit .060.

USM controlled the net despite the loss, posting a 19-6 advantage in total blocks. Kaylee Kindall led the effort with eight kills on a .300 hitting percentage, 13 total blocks, two aces and 17.5 points. Emma Murphy added six kills and four blocks, while Maddison Kruse produced five kills, five blocks and four digs. Makenza Holly also recorded five blocks to go with four kills.

The offense received 13 assists and 10 digs from Kathryn VanSkiver, while Addison Baker contributed seven assists and seven digs. Phenyx Reust added eight assists, four digs and an ace, and Isabella Kietzmann finished with eight digs and two aces. Both teams served seven aces, and the five-set result left the Spires with a 5-5 record while Dordt improved to 8-2.
 
Coming Up…

The Spires will kick off day two of the College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic in true competitive fashion, facing Crowley's Ridge College at 1 p.m. before capping off the weekend with a Battle of the Saint Mary's against the host College of Saint Mary Flames at 5 p.m.