FULTON, Mo. – Spalding volleyball gave it all they had in a 3-2 setback to Westminster in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Tournament quarterfinal match.
The Golden Eagles finish the season 8-18 and 7-7 in the SLIAC after the 25-21, 18-25, 19-25, 25-22, 8-15 loss. The Blue Jays move on to the semifinal with a 17-16 overall record and a 9-5 SLIAC mark.
TURNING POINT
In set one, a
Kayla Dunican kill put Spalding on the board first. Westminster kept things close, but not for long. The Golden Eagles pushed ahead to 13-7 thanks to an 8-1 run. The Blue Jays pulled within two twice, but could not find the momentum to push ahead. A
Jayda Branch kill secured the 25-21 first-set win for SU.
Westminster jumped out to a 2-0 before a couple of WC errors and a
Jordyn Sarver kill made the score 3-3. The Blue Jays found momentum later on and would be the first to break the double-digit mark at 10-7. A service error by Spalding and a Westminster kill took set two 25-18 for the home squad.
After surrendering the first point, SU pushed out to a quick 3-1 lead thanks to kills from three different Golden Eagles. The Blue Jays responded with a 10-point run which swung the third set in their favor. Spalding was able to hold off the first set point attempt, but the second gave Westminster the 25-19 third-frame win.
The Golden Eagles took on the part of the aggressor early in the fourth set. A flurry of offense saw the visiting team build an 11-6 lead. Spalding was the first team to 20 thanks to a Branch kill and then ripped off three more points to go up 23-18. The Blue Jays pulled within one but kills from Branch and Sarver forced a deciding fifth set.
Westminster didn't take long to build a lead in the fifth set, with a 7-0 run giving them a 9-2 lead. A block from
Ella Clark and
Kendall Mattison pulled SU within five at 9-4 and a WC error made the margin five again at 12-7. The Golden Eagles put up one more point thanks to a Blue Jay error before Westminster closed out the set and match with a 15-8 win.
GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES
- Kendall Mattison's four blocks tied her season high.
- Jayda Branch had her third-best kills output of the season with 18.
- Branch had her 12th double double with 14 digs.
- Spalding led in digs 80-73.
- Westminster was held to a .028 hitting percentage in the first frame.
FINISHING OUT THE SEASON
Spalding has now made three-straight appearances in the SLIAC Tournament. The team will return to action in the fall of 2023.
