Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Superior, WI. - The St. Scholastica volleyball team began the UW-Superior Tournament with their opening game against the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor at 3 p.m. The Saints fell short in a tough match 3-0. The second match of the day was against Martin Luther College at 5 p.m., where the Blue and Gold were victorious 4-1 in an intense four-set battle.

Game One - vs. University of Mary-Hardin Baylor
Set One

Early in set one, the Saints Sophomore Bryn Zeigler was all across the court keeping the ball alive and helping her team stay close in the first points of the game. 

The Saints fell behind by seven points until Freshman CC Sibel rallied the Saints' momentum late in the set with five service aces back to back. The team held this momentum with huge kills from Ava Swangstue (Grand Forks, N.D./Red River HS) and an amazing scramble play that began with a great dig from Kaitlyn Jones. 

Despite the Saints' undeniable efforts, they fell short of victory in set one with a 16-25 loss to UMHB.

Set Two

Set two started with each team exchanging points, with the setters holding great communication with their hitters, Swangstue and Jones, as they were putting the ball away any chance they had. 

Freshman Cassidy Lutsig not only had some great digs but was also finding a way to keep the ball alive during a long rally against UMHB early in the set. Setters Grace Myhre (Aberdeen, S.D./Aberdeen Central HS) and Natalie Yackley (New Ulm, Minn./New Ulm HS) were able to chase down the ball from all four corners of the court and keep their hitters active throughout the set. 

Set two finished with a loss of 16-25 for the St. Scholastica Volleyball team.

Set Three

Set three started with an early lead of 2-0 for the Saints. Swangstue continued to put away the ball and had multiple valuable kills to help her team stay in the game. 

Zeigler put together a two-point serve run midway through the game to hold a close score between the teams. The set remained tight to the Crusaders with massive blocks from Mikala Peterson (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) and Swangstue. 

The game remained a back-and-forth battle between the Saints and Crusaders with a finishing score of 18-25 in favor of UMHB. The match was won by UMHB 3-0. 

Game Two - vs. Martin Luther College
Set One

The Saints began the set with a 3-2 lead and went on a three-point run with Baribeau serving from the back line. The front row, led by Swangstue, kept the ball on the Martin Luther side where the Saints were able to capitalize on the Knight's errors. 

The Saints had an 11-4 lead after Yackley served for a four-point run to keep the Saints above in the set. The Saints continued with forward momentum not allowing Martin Luther to pull ahead at any point. 

Zeigler was diving across the floor touching every ball and even assisting her hitters for many kills. Setter Yackley took advantage of this and continued to set Swangstue who was getting kills for her team. 

Baribeau stayed aggressive at the net having three important swings to get the Saints the ball back. This was followed by a big side out for the Saints as they led 19-17 with a missed serve from Martin Luther. The Saints server, Jones took advantage of the Knights' faults and went on to take three consecutive points. 

Saints finished the set with server Zeigler and Kaitlyn Jones dominating the back row for a 25-18 win over Martin Luther. 

Set Two 

Set two started with a back-and-forth battle between Martin Luther and St. Scolastica. Lustig and Zeigler held down the back row and continued to give the Saints attacking attempts. The Saints took an early lead with server Jones keeping on the back line for four points. She was assisted by setter Yackley and hitters Swangstue and Lutsig to continue pushing ahead of Martin Luther. 

The game continued to be an ongoing battle until Baribeau had a huge side-out kill to put the Saints ahead 12-9. The front row was dominated by Jones and Junior Swangstue with consecutive blocks leading the Saints to pull away with power and a 20-16 lead over Martin Luther. 

St. Scholastica continued to side out and pulled away late in the set for a 25-20 win, ending with a block from Peterson to end set two. 

Set Three

Peterson started the first rally with a kill down the line to put the Saints ahead 4-1 early in the set. Baribeau was also attacking at the net and put away a great ball to keep the Saints ahead 5-2 and keep the momentum on their side. With help from setters and the back row, Peterson stayed aggressive at the net to continue the Saints' success.

Sibel had a great diving save to keep the Saints going in a long rally, which led to them taking the point and pulling ahead 9-7. After winning this big point server Mahlea Walters subbed in to go on a three-point serving run leaving the Saints ahead 12-7.

As the Saints fell behind 15-19, Swangstue had a great side-out point to allow server Yackley to bring the score back to 18-19. The Saints back row defenders were all over the court trying to keep the ball alive but ultimately the Saints fell just short of a victory losing the set 25-19.

Set Four

In set three, the Saints had a 3-0 run against Martin Luther, with the first three points being kills from Peterson. Saints Freshman Jones added to the energy on the court with a block to side out and leave the Saints ahead 5-2. 

The front row for the Saints continued the game with aggressive plays from Baribeau and Swangstue to continue the lead early. Jones began serving and ran for five points leaving the Saints with a comfortable lead of 12-5 ahead of Martin Luther. Sibel added to this lead as she countered Martin Luther's hitters with a big solo block to leave the Saints ahead 14-5. 

As the Saints took a 16-6 lead, the defense from the back row kept the play moving at a quick pace. Freshman Lauryn Kahl subbed in to serve and helped defend the Saints during their 20-9 lead. 

With a huge point from Jones the Saints were back serving and Yackley increased the lead to 22-10.

St. Scholastica ended this set with a 25-11 victory over Martin Luther. The match was won by St. Scholastica (3-1) and the Saints took home their first win of the tournament and season. 

Up Next

The Saints will return to the UW-Superior Tournament tomorrow, Saturday, September 7 for two more matches. Game one will begin at 12 p.m. against Marian University and game two, the final match for the Saints will be against the host team University of Wisconsin-Superior at 2 p.m.