FULTON, MO. - The Spalding volleyball team traveled to Fulton to take on Westminster Friday night. The Golden Eagles played a hard-fought match but lost in the fifth set in a battle of the birds. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Spalding 2 - Westminster 3
LOCATION: Westminster Historic Gymnasium | Fulton, Mo.
RECORDS: Spalding: 8-17, 6-7 SLIAC | Westminster: 11-7, 9-2 SLIAC

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Spalding started off hot in the first set, taking a quick 5-1 lead over the Blue Jays. The Golden Eagles kept their lead for a majority of the first set, but Westminster stormed back midway through, scoring seven unanswered points. Despite giving up this long run, Spalding pulled it together, scoring nine of the last eleven points of the set en route to winning the first set, 25-19.
 
- Although Spalding mostly controlled the first set, the second set went a little less according to plan. Westminster jumped out to an early 6-2 lead and never looked back. The Blue Jays put together a pair of scoring streaks of six or more points and took the second set of the night by a score of 25-11.
 
- Spalding played the third set much better than the second. The teams traded points back and forth throughout the set. Neither team showed a true advantage over the other with both teams fighting hard for the pivotal set win. Late in the set, the Golden Eagles knotted the score at 22-22. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays went on to score the final three points of the set, taking a 2-1 lead heading into the fourth set.
 
- The beginning of the fourth set appeared to be a repeat of the third set for the Golden Eagles. Westminster again jumped out to the early 7-3 lead, but Spalding clawed back and tied the game at 10-10. From there, the Blue Jays scored nine of the next twelve points including a six-point run to take a 19-13 lead. The Golden Eagles would not be outdone however, allowing Westminster only three more points in the set as they flew to a 25-22 set win.

- The arduous fifth set saw Westminster put the nail in the coffin.Spalding battled hard throughout the set, but eventually fell 15-9 in the final set of the night against the Blue Jays who are ranked second in the conference.

- Mya Summers led the Golden Eagles with 37 assists on the night, increasing her season total to 646. Cassie Jones led the Spalding attack with 20 kills and only two errors. Sarah Richards, Haley Just, and Maddie Rosendaul each had double digit digs for the Golden Eagles defense.

UP NEXT
- The Golden Eagles stay on the road, heading to St. Louis for their next game against Principia on Saturday, October 19th at 11:00 AM ET.