SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University volleyball team celebrated Senior Day with a quick 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-18) win over the University of Saint Francis on Saturday afternoon at the SAU Fieldhouse.
Prior to Saturday's season finale, the Cougars dropped a hard-fought four-set match to Goshen College on Friday evening.
VS. GOSHEN
FINAL SCORE: Spring Arbor 1, Goshen 3
LOCATION: SAU Fieldhouse | Spring Arbor, Mich.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 5-22 (1-16 CL), Goshen 13-17 (7-10 CL)
MATCH BREAKDOWN
- SET SCORES: 21-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-19
- Spring Arbor jumped all over Goshen in the opening set, racing out to a 9-2 behind three kills from Rebekah Kujat. The Cougars eventually pushed their lead to 20-12 en route to capturing the first set.
- The visiting Maple Leafs responded by taking set two, leading from start to finish, and then edging SAU in a nail-biting third set.
- In the fourth set, Spring Arbor fell behind early, but rallied back to even the score at 12-12. However, an 8-1 GC run propelled the Leafs to the match-clinching win.
- Kujat paced the SAU offense with 16 kills while Kasey Follis added 11 and Courtney Kyser chipped in nine. Annica Stotz dished out a career-high 45 assists on her way to recording a double-double, picking up 11 digs along the way. Stotz also collected two of the Cougars' six aces.
- Leah Rose finished with 25 digs and Taylor Johnston matched her career-high with 18.
FOR THE MAPLE LEAFS
- Hallie Vanitvelt and Lexa Magnuson led the Goshen attack. Vanitvelt finished with 16 kills while Magnuson followed with 10. Setters Lisa Rodriguez and Ally Roehr combined for 45 assists.
- Christy Swartzendruber led a group of four Maple Leaf players with double-digit digs, picking up 21. Kylie Giger posted six blocks in the match.
VS. SAINT FRANCIS
FINAL SCORE: Spring Arbor 3, Saint Francis 0
LOCATION: SAU Fieldhouse | Spring Arbor, Mich.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 6-22, Saint Francis
MATCH BREAKDOWN
- SET SCORES: 25-23, 25-18, 25-18
- Before the match, Spring Arbor recognized its seniors Laura Hardy, Taylor Johnston and Rebekah Kujat.
- In the first set, the two teams traded points battling to a 14-14 tie before kills from Alyssa Walker and Kujat sparked a 5-1 Cougar run. Saint Francis responded with a late run of their own to grab a 23-21 edge, but SAU consecutive kills from Follis, followed by an ace from Stotz, helped the Cougars claim the opening frame.
- Spring Arbor was in complete control of the second set, charging out to a 18-9 lead on their way to grabbing a commanding two-sets-to-none lead.
- Saint Francis refused to go away quietly, though, putting up a fight in set three. With the score knotted 11-11, SAU used a 6-1 scoring spurt, highlighted by two kills from Follis, to put the visitors away for good.
- Three Cougars finished with double-figure kills, including Follis with a team-high 12 kills and a .579 hitting percentage. Kyser and Kujat followed with 10 apiece with both hitting at a .400 clip. Stotz orchestrated the attack with 38 assists and added two aces.
- Rose collected 16 digs with Johnston and Mackay Heasley tallying eight each.
- As a team, the Cougars posted a season-best .330 hitting percentage.
FOR SAINT FRANCIS
- Saint Francis was led by 12 kills from Cassidy Rammel. Setters Sam Soltis and Chloe Hubner totaled 33 combined assists.
- Valorie Flick anchored the USF defense with 11 digs.
Volleyball Contact: Chris Bauman | 517-750-6504 | christopher.bauman@arbor.edu
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