ST. LOUIS – The second ranked and top seeded University of Missouri-St. Louis volleyball team begins its quest for a GLVC championship this Friday taking on eighth seeded Upper Iowa in the quarterfinal round of the GLVC Volleyball Tournament at 11:30 a.m. at Williamsville High School in Williamsville, Ill.
The Tritons (28-0, 13-0 GLVC) wrapped up their unbeaten regular with straight wins at Drury and Southwest Baptist last weekend. UMSL hit .313 in the two matches averaging more than 15 kills per set and was led by
Lexie Rang with 4.5 kills per set while
Delaney Humm and
Mya Elliott added 3.83 and 2.67 kills per set.
Caitlin Bishop guided the offense handing out 12.33 assists per set while Rang and Elliott had seven blocks apiece and
Kylie Adams averaged 4.83 digs per set.
GLVC Tournament - The Tritons are making their 23rd appearance all-time in the GLVC Tournament with their best finishes coming in 2019 and 2021 as runner-up. They've won six of their last 10 matches at the conference tournament including their last four first round matches.
AVCA Rankings – UMSL is ranked second for the second straight week in the latest AVCA/Taraflex Division II Top 25 poll. Wayne State (Neb.) continues to hold the top followed by the Tritons, Tampa, Concordia-St. Paul and Southwest Minnesota State. UMSL is one of four GLVC teams ranked this week. Lewis remained 13 while Quincy is 21 and Rockhurst fell into the receiving votes category.
NCAA Statistical Rankings – The Tritons are one of the top offenses in the country in Division II ranking second in kills per set with more than 15 per set and third in hitting percentage at .290. Bishop is ranked second in the nation in assists per set with 12.33.
About Upper Iowa – The Peacocks enter Friday's contest with an overall record of 11-16 including 6-7 in the GLVC. They snapped a three-match losing streak last Saturday with a 3-1 win over Maryville in their home finale.
Zoe Semelroth led Upper Iowa with a match-high 17 kills in the contest while Lydia Imbrogno added 14 kills. Nicole Pozorski had 24 assists, Imbrogno and Kaci Beesecker added 17 digs apiece and Semelroth had four aces and three blocks.
Semelroth continues to lead the team offensively averaging 3.21 kills per set while hitting .288. Emily Kono is contributing 2.65 kills per set. Pozorski is averaging 9.67 digs per set, Imbrogno leads the team with 541 digs and Semelroth has recorded 71 total blocks.
Series History – Friday's contest is the second meeting all-time between the two schools. UMSL won the first contest earlier this season in straight sets at Upper Iowa on Oct. 27.
