Blue Jays Fall Apart Against Spalding

The Westminster volleyball team had their eight game winning streak snapped after Spalding University won three straight sets to defeat the Westminster Blue Jays 3-1 Friday night. The Blue Jays are now 15-9 overall and 13-2 in conference play.

The scores were 26-24, 17-25, 22-25, 13-25.

The Blue Jays quickly pulled a 2-0 lead in set one with kills by sophomores Amanda Kiso and Gabby LaRose. A kill by sophomore Riley Lawrence followed by two Spalding attack errors gave the Blue Jays a 5-1 lead, but Spalding went on a four point run to tie the set, 5-5. Two kills by freshman Hannah Marshall started a four point run, and the Blue Jays held the lead throughout the set. A kill by Lawrence put the Blue Jays up 21-16, but Spalding had a five point rally to bring the game within one, 21-20. A Blue Jay attack error tied the set at 24-24, but a kill by Kiso brought the set to game point, and junior Lexi Collier put down a kill to win the set, 26-24.

Spalding jumped out to a 5-0 lead in set two before Westminster called a timeout. The Spalding Golden Eagles scored one more before serving into the net to give the Blue Jays their first point. The Blue Jays rallied back to tie the set, 7-7. Spalding reached a four point run to take the 19-15 lead before Westminster called their second timeout of the set. Marshall smashed a kill to get the point, but a Spalding block on the next play put the score at 20-16, Spalding. Two kills by Spalding gave them the 25-17 set two win to tie the match at 1-1.

The Blue Jays hit a three point rally when Spalding had two attack errors and sophomore Gabby LaRose had an ace. The Blue Jays hit another three point run to take the 11-6 lead in set three. The Blue Jays held a five point lead until they committed four consecutive attack errors to put Spalding back into the set. Westminster called a timeout with the score 15-14, Westminster. LaRose came out of the timeout with a kill and Spalding then committed two attack errors. With the Blue Jays leading 19-15, Spalding was forced to take a timeout. Spalding tied the set 21-21, and continued on a 6-1 run to win the set 25-22.

The Blue Jays and Golden Eagles battled back-and-forth in set four, but Spalding took off with a four point streak to bring the set to 15-11 before Westminster called a timeout. Spalding served into the net, and sophomore setter Kayla Reeg tipped the ball over for a kill to bring the set to 16-13. Two attack errors by the Blue Jays forced them to take their second timeout of the set, and Spalding finished with a six point run coming out of the timeout to win the set and match, 25-13.

Reeg led the Blue Jay offense with 40 assists. Lawrence and Collier each had 13 kills, and Collier hit .292 on the night. Junior libero Caroline Will had 19 digs on the night.

The Blue Jays travel to Webster Groves, MO on Tuesday, October 28 to face Webster University at 7:00 p.m.