Hammond, Ind. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis volleyball team reverse swept No. 16 Grand Valley State to win 3-2 and extend its winning streak to 14 at the Midwest Region Crossover in Hammond, Ind., on Saturday afternoon. The Tritons improve to 16-5 while the Lakers are 17-5.
UMSL jumped out to an early six-point lead but Grand Valley's block got going as it blocked the Tritons seven times in the frame to rally for the 25-21 victory.
The Lakers led by as many as seven points in set two at 15-8. The Tritons got to within four on two separate occasions but couldn't get any closer as GVSU won 25-17 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
UMSL trailed 11-6 in the third set before rallying with a 6-1 run to even things at 12 as
Mady Gant and
Alayna Santel teamed up for three straight blocks. The Tritons retook the lead at 21-18 but the Lakers scored five of the next six points to grab a 23-22 advantage.
UMSL closed the set strong scoring the final three points with kills from Santel and
Addison Voorhees and an error by Finley Arp to win 25-23 and extend the match.
The Tritons raced out to an early six-point lead in set four only to see Grand Valley to take a 19-18 lead after a kill by Grace Busold. UMSL went on a 5-0 run to build a 23-19 lead and was able to close out the set for a 25-21 victory to force a decisive fifth set.
The Tritons trailed 8-6 midway through the final frame before running off eight straight points to take a commanding 14-8 lead. The Lakers didn't go quietly as they staved off five match points to pull within 14-13 before a Santel kill ended the contest.
UMSL hit .207 for the contest with 62 kills against 27 errors in 169 attempts and was led by Santel with 17 kills.
Brooklyn Young added a career-high 16 kills while Gant finished with 10 kills and five blocks.
Marly Burbach had 51 assists and
Skylar Weaver added 24 digs.
Grand Valley had an attack percentage of .267 with 68 kills against 24 errors in 164 swings and was led by Grace Busold with a match-high 18 kills. Gabby Orlet had 51 assists, Paige Sanders added 10 blocks ad Lexi Armstrong had a match-high 26 digs.
The Tritons return home on Friday (Oct. 23) hosting Lewis at 6 p.m. at the Mark Twain Building.
