LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Freshman Maggie Purichia had a match-high 14 kills and Mya Summers added a team-high 29 assists, but it was not enough as the Spalding volleyball team lost in four sets to the Greenville Panthers 25-23, 14-25, 12-25, and 16-25 Friday night at Columbia Gym.

The Golden Eagles struggled in their attack hitting .095 for the match. Samantha Robison tallied six kills and Cassie Jones added seven kills, respectively. Sarah Richards anchored the back row with a team-high 16 digs while Summers added 12. Greenville hit .255 behind 12 kills from Amanda Hollis and 11 kills on .733 hitting from Emily Stahl.

A Purichia kill to open the match set the tone for the Golden Eagles in the first set and a Theresa Kwarciany kill gave SU a 15-14 edge near the mid-way mark. However, the Panthers outscored Spalding 7-2 to pull ahead 21-17. Following a timeout, SU was able trim the margin to one point behind a kill from both Purichia and Jones, and took over the serve trailing, 23-22, following a Jasmin Smith service error. A Summers ace followed by back-to-back Purichia kills claimed first set for Spalding, 25-23.

The Panthers took control early in the second set storming out to a 14-7 lead in the second set as they went on the capture the set, 25-14, behind four Stahl kills on perfect 1.000 hitting. The Panthers balanced attack also included three kills each from Anna Finch and Hollis combining to hit .600 for the set to help even the match at one set apiece.  

Similar to the second set, Greenville came out swinging in the third to take commanding, 14-5, lead following another Stahl kill. Spalding battled to keep the margin at single digits, but the Panther attack pulled away late taking the second set, 25-15.

Looking to even the match at 2-2, Spalding capitalized on three Greenville attack errors and a Samantha Robison kill to take an early 4-3 advantage. Nevertheless, the Panthers found their groove and responded with a 10-1 run taking a 13-5 lead following a Smith kill. Spalding gave a great effort in an attempt to fight their way back into it, but the margin was too much to overcome as Greenville took the set, 25-16.

The Golden Eagles (0-1) will be back in action next week playing a pair of matches Friday, February 12. SU takes on Iowa Wesleyan (0-0) in the opener at 6 p.m. ET followed by a nightcap with Eureka at 8 p.m. ET.