ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The ambience Tuesday night at Chuck Smith Court was palpable.

The UMSL Tritons (11-4, 6-1) -- after dropping a five-set heartbreaker just three days prior at Southern Indiana -- were itching to hit their floor as they hosted Missouri S & T.

The Tritons wasted little time setting the tempo as they swept the Rolla visitors -- 25-22, 25-12, 25-13.

The Miners were down a couple of players due to COVID, which, according to senior Libero Megan Woll, lit a figurative fire under the Tritons.

After all, the Miners outdueled the Tritons each of the past two seasons.

"Yeah, we were really nervous coming into this game," Woll said. "We have always put up a good fight against this team. We really wanted to come in and beat them on our home court. When you play a good team, it's important to come out from the first point. We have struggled a little bit this year, to come out from the first point. But, that is one thing we have been working on. I think we did well with that tonight. Coming out in the beginning -- it's very important -- because it sets the tone for the rest of the match. "

The Tritons were the beneficiary of regrouping and not having too much time off after the aforementioned Indiana match, which was just fine with the host.

"That was a very tough loss," added Woll. "We fought hard. I think we wanted to come out tonight and show we are made up of a good team, and we are capable of beating them. So, the next time we see them, it will be a good match. I think not having too many days to think about it ... short-term memory is a good thing to have. It is not in the back of your mind, and we need that. That is a good on-court mentality."

In the opening set Tuesday, both teams were exposing holes in the front-line defense.

The set was equal opportunity, as Charlotte Richards, Olivia Klank, and Karlyn Hannewald, to name a few, all delivered vicious kills.

UMSL led by as many as five points at two junctures.

In the second set, the equal-opportunity attack continued as Richards netted back-to-back-to-back kills.

Hannewald delivered a cross-court shot, prior to Kaileen Herman, who extended the early lead to 10-4.

Mya Elliott made her presence known as she delivered back-to-back attacks, as the Tritons suddenly found themselves in the driver's seat in the second set, 12-4.

Alexa Rang followed suit, prior to Herman's attack and Richards's ace.

Klank's attack put the match out of reach, as the Tritons extended to 22-10.

In the third, two consecutive fouls for double hits impeded the Miners from establishing any sort of run, and Richards kept her foot on the pedal as she delivered back-to-back-to-back kills.

Stats from the match:

Kills: Richards-16; Elliott-9; Hannewald-7.

Aces: Richards-3.

Blocks: Klank-2; Elliott-2; Paige Yoder-2.

Assists: Herman-29; Woll-5; Klank-2.

Digs: Woll-13; Richards-10; Herman-8.

The Tritons are back in action Friday at Truman State and Sunday at Maryville. They don't return home until Oct. 29.