Omaha, Neb.—

Game One:

The University of Saint Mary captured a tight opening set before Crowley's Ridge (AR)'s Crowley's Ridge (AR) responded to hand the Spires a 3-1 loss Saturday at CSM Fieldhouse on day two of the College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic. USM fell by set scores of 25-23, 21-25, 23-25 and 8-25.

The Spires established their attack early, building a 17-9 advantage in the first set on a kill by Kayla Adeoye. Crowley's Ridge answered with an 11-3 run to pull even at 20, setting up a back-and-forth finish. After the score was tied at 23, Maddison Kruse delivered a kill that gave Saint Mary set point. An opposing attack error on the next rally secured the 25-23 victory.

USM had to rally again in the second set after falling behind 15-5. The Spires scored seven consecutive points, with a Adeoye kill cutting the deficit to 15-12. CRC rebuilt its lead, but the Spires made another late push. Another Adeoye kill completed a three-point run and brought the Spires within 24-21 before Saxton closed the set with a kill, evening the match at one set apiece.

The Spires mounted their strongest comeback in the third set. An 8-0 run put Crowley's Ridge ahead 16-8, but USM erased the entire deficit and moved in front 20-19 behind a rally that included two kills from leader Adeoye. The Spires also led 21-20 before the set turned again. A kill by Kruse kept Saint Mary within 23-22, and an opposing attack error trimmed the margin to 24-23. Saxton again put away the deciding kill for a 25-23 result.

CRC carried that momentum into the fourth set, opening an early seven-point advantage. Emma Murphy stopped the initial run with a kill, but USM could not generate another extended response. Saxton finished the 25-8 set with a kill to secure the match.

Kayla Adeoye led the Spires with 11 kills and a .318 hitting percentage, committing four errors on 22 attempts. Emma Murphy added seven kills and three block assists, while Cierra Poldberg finished with five kills, three block assists and one service ace. Addison Baker totaled 18 assists, three aces and five digs, and Kathryn VanSkiver contributed 14 assists and eight digs. Defensively, Dakotah Garcia collected a team-high 15 digs and Daniella Rivera-Perez added 14.

USM finished with 37 kills, eight service aces, 62 digs and seven total blocks. Crowley's Ridge recorded 49 kills, 67 digs and nine blocks while hitting .210. Cross led the home side with 13 kills on a .370 hitting percentage and five block assists, while Saxton added 12 kills.
 
Game Two:

The Spires pushed back with a dramatic third-set rally before College of Saint Mary (NE) closed out a 25-18, 25-10, 24-26, 25-13 victory Saturday evening. USM finished with 31 kills, six service aces, 57 digs and six team blocks in the four-set match.

USM faced an 8-1 deficit in the opening set but steadily worked back into contention. Daniella Rivera-Perez served an ace as the Spires trimmed the margin to 10-5, then delivered another during a four-point run that cut a 23-14 deficit to 23-18. College of Saint Mary responded with the final two points to secure the set, 25-18.

The teams traded points early in the second set, with a kill by Makenza Holly pulling the Spires even at 3-3. College of Saint Mary then took control with a 10-1 run, building a 13-4 advantage on the way to a 25-10 win and a two-set lead.

The Spires produced their strongest stretch in the third set. Saige Hadley recorded a kill as the Spires scored five of the first six points, and consecutive aces by Kathryn VanSkiver later helped the Spires regain a 10-9 lead. After the Flames moved ahead 20-16, USM rallied again. A kill by Emma Murphy and a block on the following rally cut the deficit to one, while another ace from Kathryn VanSkiver made it 22-21 before the Spires tied the score.

Neither side separated through ties at 23-23 and 24-24. Sammy Jo Kirk delivered the kill that tied the set at 23, and Saige Hadley put Saint Mary in front 25-24 with a kill. Maya Newcomer and Addison Baker then combined on the set-clinching block, giving the Spires a 26-24 win and extending the match. The Spires took an early 2-1 lead in the fourth on a Newcomer kill, but the Flames answered with an 8-1 stretch and eventually built an 18-8 advantage before closing the set 25-13.

Emma Murphy led the Spires with six kills and hit .182. Maya Newcomer added five kills on .364 hitting, two solo blocks and two block assists, while Saige Hadley finished with five kills and a team-high 15 digs. Makenza Holly also had five kills, and Addison Baker directed the offense with 27 assists while adding 10 digs. Kathryn VanSkiver served three of Saint Mary's six aces, and Daniella Rivera-Perez contributed two aces and 10 digs. College of Saint Mary hit .283 with 57 kills and 11 team blocks, led by Briar Ray with 14 kills and Azaria Green with 13.
 
Coming Up…

The Spires continue their road battles as they travel to Peru, Nebraska to take on Peru State College on Tuesday, September 8^th at 7 p.m. in Al Wheeler Activity Center.