TOPEKA, KAN. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis volleyball team opened its 2017 season with a pair of wins on day one of the Washburn Invitational on Friday, sweeping East Central before rallying for a 3-1 win over Pittsburg State.  
 
UMSL head coach Ryan Young picked up his 100^th career victory in the Tritons' first win of the day. Young is just the second head coach in program history to go over the 100-win plateau.
 
Sophomore Kylie Rudsinski averaged 4.14 kills per set in the two wins, while senior Danielle Waedekin averaged 6.43 digs per set.
 
UMSL 3, East Central 0 (25-14, 25-11, 25-16)
Records: UMSL (1-0), East Central (0-1)
 
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
- The Tritons limited East Central to five kills in the first set and received four blocks from senior Kara Roggemann.
- UMSL ended the second set by outscoring the Tigers, 12-1. Roggemann had five kills during that stretch.
- The Tritons raced out to a 7-1 start in the third set and built it to 21-8 after a string of 11 unanswered points, which included two blocks and a kill from junior Alex Miner.
 
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Rudsinski recorded a match-high 15 kills and added three blocks, while Roggemann equaled career highs of nine kills and five blocks.
- The Tritons hit .286, while limiting the Tigers to -.040, outblocking their foes, 8-3.
- Freshman Payton Kennelly and senior Madyson Abeyta dished out 19 and 18 assists, respectively, while Abeyta also tallied three service aces.
- Defensively, Waedkein tallied 15 digs, while redshirt sophomore Maddy Russell added 11.
 
UMSL 3, Pittsburg State 1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-20)
Records: UMSL (2-0), Pittsburg State (1-1)
 
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
- The Tritons hit .325 in the opening set, but was plagued by four service errors.
- UMSL rallied from a 23-17 deficit in the second set, scoring the final eight points with senior Gina Pezze serving seven of those.
- A kill from sophomore Selena Nolte made it 15-11 in the third set and after the Gorillas tied it at 17-17, the Tritons took advantage of an ace from Abeyta and a couple attack errors to pull ahead, 22-18.
- Rudsinski tallied six kills in nine attempts in the fourth set.
- A late 5-0 run in the final frame turned a 17-16 deficit into 21-17 advantage that UMSL would not relinquish.
 
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- UMSL hit .178, while Pitt State hit .137.
- Rudsinski finished with 14 kills, while Russell notched her first double-double of the year with 12 kills and 13 digs.
- Waedekin recorded 30 digs, while Pezzed added 14.
- Abeyta dished out 27 assists to go with two aces and nine digs.
 
UP NEXT
UMSL will close out action at the Washburn Invitational tomorrow with matches against Emporia State at 11 a.m. and against the host Ichabods at 5:30 p.m.