SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University women's volleyball team saw its six-match winning streak come to an end Tuesday night, falling 3-1 to No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan University inside the McDonald Athletic Center.
The three-time defending NAIA national champions took the match by scores of 25-18, 25-23, 11-25 and 25-21. Spring Arbor moved to 8-2 on the season, while Indiana Wesleyan improved to 6-2.
After IWU claimed the opening set, the Cougars had an opportunity to even the match in a tightly contested second frame. Spring Arbor erased a 14-11 deficit and eventually took a 22-20 lead following back-to-back points from
Natasha Bickel.
Isabelle Kirkendall later put SAU back in front 23-22, but the Wildcats responded with the final three points to escape with a 25-23 victory.
Spring Arbor answered emphatically in the third.
The Cougars raced out to a 6-0 advantage and never looked back, extending the margin to 10-2 and eventually cruising to a 25-11 win. SAU hit a blistering .474 in the set while committing just one attacking error and held Indiana Wesleyan to a -.071 hitting percentage.
The Cougars carried that momentum into the fourth and built an early 8-6 lead. Indiana Wesleyan responded with five straight points to move ahead 11-8 before SAU battled back to tie the set at 11-11. The Wildcats then regained control with a 7-1 run and held off Spring Arbor down the stretch for the 25-21 victory.
Kirkendall led the Cougar attack with 12 kills, while Bickel finished with 10 kills and a team-best .292 hitting percentage.
Melissa Staufer added five kills, three service aces and nine digs.
Camy Wedge handed out 20 assists and added nine digs, while
Gianna Kanitz contributed 11 assists and nine digs.
Palmer Fortress paced the defense with 10 digs. The Cougars also recorded 10 total blocks and held Indiana Wesleyan to just a .099 hitting percentage for the match.
Spring Arbor returns to action Wednesday, Sept. 2 when it hosts the University of Saint Francis at the McDonald Athletic Center. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
