SANDUSKY, Ohio - Saint Mary's College Volleyball opened Saturday with a 3-0 victory over Kenyon College to bring their win streak to three matches to open the season before falling to Anderson University in the afternoon slate, 3-0. The Belles finished off the opening tournament of the season with a 3-1 record.
Saint Mary's vs Kenyon
After a close match to begin the first set, it was all Belles to follow. Saint Mary's would go on multiple runs to extend their lead up to eight at one point before finishing the Owls for the set victory, 25-20. Senior Cali Allen and sophomore Caroline Carens both racked up four kills in the set while junior Delaney Martin and freshman Brooke Bolthouse tallied two service aces each.
The Belles used a dominant opening to the match to get out to a quick 9-0 run and would never look back. While the Owls tried to pull it closer, Saint Mary's would come out victorious in the second set, 25-18. Allen and freshman Kalli Lewkowski would both add four kills in the set while junior Karli Fegan would add eight digs in the set.
Kenyon took control early in the third set, but Saint Mary's would use a 15-4 run at the end of the set to take the third set, 25-15, and the match victory in a sweep. Lewkowski added five kills in the set to bring her total to a match high 11. Four Belles had three or more service aces while Martin and Allen each led the match with four while Bolthouse and fellow freshman Giuliana Graczyk each had three.
Saint Mary's vs Anderson
The Belles run of seven consecutive sets won came to an end in the first set after a 25-14 loss to the Ravens. Anderson used a 14-3 run in the middle of the set to pull away from Saint Mary's and never looked back. Three Belles, including Carens and Lewkowski as well as junior Patricia Settlemier tallied multiple kills in the set.
While the second set remained close, the Ravens were able to use their momentum from the first set to pull away and take the second set from the Belles, 25-19. Allen and Carens both jumped their total attacks to double-digits in the set while Fegan brought her total digs count to 12.
The momentum never stopped for Anderson as they continued to pull away in the third set. While Saint Mary's put up a strong finish, with the match point on the line, starting a 5-0 run wasn't enough as they fell, 25-21. Allen finished the match with a team high seven kills while Graczyk led the team with 11 assists.
UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES:
After a long break, Saint Mary's returns home to host Benedictine University for the home opener on September 10 with the match scheduled to start at 7:30 pm. The Eagles will come into the match after starting the season 1-2 with a win over Concordia University Texas in the Eagle Classic and will take on North Park University and compete in the Forester Invitational before heading to Notre Dame, Indiana.