SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University volleyball team went undefeated in Saturday's home tri-match against the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Indiana University South Bend. The Cougars held on to beat Michigan-Dearborn in five sets in the opener and defeated Indiana South Bend 3-1 to close out the afternoon.
Freshman
Kendall Bollenbacher combined for a team-leading 29 kills over the two matches while
Alison Nibbelink followed with 26.
With the wins, the Cougars improve to 9-3 on the season.
VS. MICHIGAN-DEARBORN
SCORE: Spring Arbor 3, Michigan-Dearborn 2 (25-13, 25-21, 16-25, 23-25, 15-11)
LOCATION: McDonald Athletic Center | Spring Arbor, Mich.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 8-3, Michigan-Dearborn 3-8
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
- Spring Arbor claimed the first two sets but Michigan-Dearborn refused to go down easily, winning the next two.
- The Cougars opened the fifth set on a 4-0 run and never looked back on their way to winning their first match of the day.
- Bollenbacher led the way with 15 kills. Nibbelink and Abigail Fernihough added 11 apiece and Quincy Davis chipped in eight while hitting at a .571 clip.
- Setters Hayden Fortress and Kenady Cox tallied 45 assists.
- Emily Johnson landed four aces and picked up 11 digs while Frances Churchwell recorded 13 digs.
- In addition to her 11 kills, Fernihough registered 6 blocks.
VS. INDIANA SOUTH BEND
SCORE: Spring Arbor 3, Indiana South Bend 1 (25-10, 25-21, 21-25, 25-10)
LOCATION: McDonald Athletic Center | Spring Arbor, Mich.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 9-3, Indiana South Bend 3-10
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
- Just like in their match against Michigan-Dearborn, the Cougars jumped out a 2-0 set lead.
- Indiana South Bend avoided the sweep by claiming the third frame, but SAU closed out the match with a dominant fourth set.
- Nibbelink finished with a match-high 15 kills. Bollenbacher added 14 kills and Sarah Eliason chipped in seven.
- Fortress handed out 27 assists and notched 14 digs.
- Churchwell had 28 digs and Johnson had 15.
UP NEXT
Spring Arbor hosts No. 18 Taylor University in Crossroads League action on Wednesday, Sept. 14. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
