ST. LOUIS – The fifth ranked University of Missouri-St. Louis volleyball team is off to its best start in school history at 13-0, 1-0 GLVC after sweeping William Jewell in its home and Great Lakes Valley Conference opener on Friday evening at the Mark Twain Building.

The Tritons fell into an early four-point hole but was able to recover to take a 12-10 lead after a kill from Hannah Copeland. UMSL pushed its lead to four at 18-14 after a kill from Lexie Rang but the Cardinals (5-7, 0-1 GLVC) cut the lead in half to 18-16 after a service ace from Brooke Tholen. That would be as close as Jewell got the rest of the way as the Tritons scored the final seven points of the stanza to take the opener 25-16.

The Cardinals jumped out to a 3-1 lead to start the second set but UMSL countered with a 6-1 run to build a five-point lead after a kill from Copeland. WJC cut the deficit to 16-14 after an error from Copeland but wouldn't get any closer as the Tritons finished the frame on a 9-3 run to take it 25-17 and the commanding 2-0 lead.

UMSL never trailed in the final stanza jumping out to an early three-point lead and led by as many as seven points late in the set. The Cardinals fought off two set points but couldn't stave off a third as Mya Elliott terminated a ball to end it for the 25-19 victory.

The Tritons hit .330 for the match with 49 kills against 14 errors in 106 chances and were led by Delaney Humm with 15 kills while Rang added 13 kills and Elliott finished with eight kills. Caitlin Bishop distributed 46 assists, Copeland led the way with four blocks and Kylie Adams had 16 digs.

UMSL's defense held William Jewell to a .079 hitting percentage with 25 kills against 17 errors in 101 attempts. Bella LaPorta led the Cardinals with nine kills while Samantha Thompson had 12 assists and Alexis Nunn finished with eight digs.

The Tritons continue their three-game homestand on Saturday hosting No. 25 Rockhurst at 3 p.m. at the Mark Twain Building. The Hawks swept McKendree in its GLVC opener on Friday.