SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The No. 23 Spring Arbor University women's volleyball team picked up its first Crossroads League victory of the season with a 3-0 sweep of the University of Saint Francis on Wednesday night inside the McDonald Athletic Center.
The Cougars won by scores of 25-22, 25-20 and 25-22 to improve to 9-2 overall and 1-1 in league play. Saint Francis dropped to 4-6 overall and 0-2 in the Crossroads League.
Spring Arbor jumped out quickly in the opening set, building an 18-8 advantage behind a pair of service aces from
Palmer Fortress. Saint Francis responded with nine consecutive points to pull within one at 18-17, but SAU never surrendered the lead.
Keely Hinzman helped steady the Cougars with a kill and an ace down the stretch before
Alexis Remtema closed out the 25-22 victory with a kill.
The Cougars had to come from behind in the second. Saint Francis held a 15-12 advantage before SAU began to work its way back, eventually taking its first lead since the early stages of the set at 17-16 on a Fortress ace. The teams traded points until
Melissa Staufer sparked the decisive run. Her kill tied the score at 19-19 before she followed with an ace, and the Cougars scored five straight to take control. Remtema finished the set with another kill for the 25-20 win.
Spring Arbor led much of the third set, opening up a 14-7 advantage. Saint Francis battled back to tie the score at 19-19, but the Cougars again answered when it mattered. Staufer recorded three kills over SAU's final six points, while
Natasha Bickel delivered a kill to reach match point before the Cougars completed the sweep, 25-22.
Spring Arbor used a balanced attack with
Isabelle Kirkendall and Staufer leading the way with seven kills apiece. Hinzman added six kills while hitting .300, and Bickel finished with five kills at a .300 clip. Remtema also recorded five kills and hit .273.
Camy Wedge handed out 16 assists and
Gabby Bryja added 11. Kirkendall and Fortress each recorded three of SAU's nine service aces. Hinzman led the effort at the net with two solo blocks and four block assists as the Cougars held Saint Francis to a .071 hitting percentage.
Up next, Spring Arbor travels to Winona Lake, Indiana to take on the Grace College Lancers on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
