SANDUSKY, Ohio - The Saint Mary's volleyball team fought their way back from an early deficit against Bluffton to capture a 3-2 (26-28, 21-25, 25-20, 26-24, 15-12) win before falling in a 3-2 (24-26, 23-25, 25-14, 25-17, 15-10) match late on Friday night against Capital on day one of the Great Lake Cross Over.

 

The Belles rallied from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 win over Bluffton to open the 2022 season. Colleen McCarthy paced the Saint Mary's efforts with 18 kills and 17 digs with four service aces. Grace Braselton and Mia Shields made an immediate impact in their first collegiate matches as the pair each registered nine kills. Braselton chipped in two solo blocks and two assisted blocks while Shields had a team-best five aces along with 16 digs. Cali Allen notched 12 digs and a pair of kills. Shay Theile and Delaney Martin each collected eight digs and four kills while Theile recorded four assisted blocks. Remington Vincent put up 26 assists, and Karla Rigan added 16 assists and three assisted blocks against the Beavers.

 

The nightcap saw Saint Mary's fall just short of taking down the Comets in the team's second five-set thriller of the day. Colleen McCarthy had her second double-double with 15 kills and 16 digs, and Delaney Martin registered her first double-digit kill effort with 12 while narrowly missing a double-double of her own with nine digs. Mia Shields put away seven kills, and Grace Braselton and Shay Theile each contributed five kills. Courtney Pelletier had a team-best 18 digs, and Remington Vincent collected a double-double with 25 assists and 16 digs. Karla Rigan added 13 assists of her own for the Belles.

 

The Belles return to the court on Saturday to take on Waynesburg at 10:00 a.m. and Defiance at 2:00 p.m. on day two of the Great Lakes Cross Over hosted by Heidelberg.