ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University volleyball team posted two thrilling five-set victories on the final day of the Concordia University Kick-Off Tournament. The Cougars edged out Siena Heights University 25-19, 18-25, 25-13, 20-25, 15-12 and beat Mount Vernon Nazarene University 23-25, 16-25, 25-20, 25-19, 15-5.

Spring Arbor was one of three teams to post a 3-1 record at the tournament, however, Siena Heights was crowned the tournament champion due to the total sets won tiebreaker. Spring Arbor freshman Stephaney Fifield was one of seven players named to the All-Tournament Team.

At 3-1, Spring Arbor is off to its best start since the 2009 season. Saturday's wins also made it three straight for the Cougars – the first three-match winning streak for the program since 2011.

MATCH 1

FINAL SCORE: Spring Arbor def. Siena Heights 3-2 (25-19, 18-25, 25-13, 20-25, 15-12)

LOCATION: Cardinal Fieldhouse | Ann Arbor, Mich.

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 2-1, Siena Heights 3-1

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the decisive fifth set, Siena Heights pulled ahead 10-5. Spring Arbor refused to give up though scoring six consecutive points to take the lead. With the score 12-12, Alyssa Walker posted back-to-back kills and Kasey Follis completed the comeback with the match-clinching kill.
• Follis recorded a career-best 16 kills while Sydney Ritz and Walker followed with 14. Annica Stotz finished with 40 assists.
• Fifield notched 40 digs and fellow freshman Paige Porter collected 25. Leah Rose and Stotz also finished in double figures with 22 and 14, respectively. Watson and Audra Rupp were a force at the net combining for 12 total blocks.

MATCH 2

FINAL SCORE: Spring Arbor def. Mount Vernon Nazarene 3-2 (23-25, 16-25, 25-20, 25-19, 15-5)

LOCATION: Cardinal Fieldhouse | Ann Arbor, Mich.

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 3-1, Mount Vernon Nazarene 2-2

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Spring Arbor got off to a slow start against Mount Vernon Nazarene following its five-set marathon with the Saints. MVNU won the first two sets to grab complete control of the match.
• The momentum shifted in the third set, however, as Stotz served up five straight points to start the frame. A kill from Ritz would expand the lead to 9-2 and the Cougars would cruise to the set win.
• The two teams batted back-and-forth in the fourth set. With the score tied 18-18, SAU rattled off a 6-0 run, highlighted by three kills from Walker, on its way to evening the match at two sets apiece.
• MVNU grabbed a 3-1 advantage to start the fifth set, but the lead was short lived as Spring Arbor closed out the match with a 14-2 run.
• Ritz led the way with a career-high 16 kills. Courtney Kyser also posted a career-high in kills with 14 while Follis added 13. Stotz recorded another double-double with 37 assists and 11 digs.
• Fifield collected 21 digs. Rose totaled 14 and Mackay Heasley picked up 11.

QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH BETSY MARTINEZ

• "We are excited to have gone 3-1 to begin our season. Seeing our girls come back from 5-10 to win a fifth set and down 0-2 to win a match was a huge step for us. We saw consistent team play and had several contributors offensively and defensively. We are looking forward to building on this start."

UP NEXT

Spring Arbor will compete in the Early Bird Challenge, hosted by the University of Michigan-Dearborn, on Friday, Aug. 25 and Saturday, Aug. 26. The Cougars will face off against Judson University and Williams Baptist College on Friday before meeting up with Trinity International University and Indiana University-South Bend on Saturday.

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