UMKC Volleyball Team Drops Summit League Opener, 3-1, To South Dakota State
Brookings, S. D. – The UMKC volleyball team (3-7, 0-1) lost its Summit League opener on Friday night, 3-1, to South Dakota at Frost Arena. Four ‘Roos finished with double-digits kills in the match, led by junior Christiana McQuin’s 12, while Ella Meier registered a career-high 42 assists.
The ‘Roos fell behind early in the first set, trailing 4-0 before fighting back for a 25-20 win. UMKC took control of the match with the score tied at eight when it went on a 7-3 run to take a 15-11 lead. The ‘Roos extended the lead to as many as six before taking the match lead, 1-0. Emily Lucas led the ‘Roos in the set, as the sophomore notched four kills.
The Jackrabbits evened the match in the second set, downing the ‘Roos 25-19. South Dakota State again took the early lead in the match, this time though, UMKC would not be able to mount a comeback and the match was tied 1-1 heading into intermission.
Coming out of the break, SDSU captured their first match lead, winning the set, 25-19. In the set, the ‘Roos hung close early as the score was tied at 15 halfway through the match. The Jackrabbits however, used a 5-0 run to take a 20-15 lead before taking the set.
South Dakota State closed out the match in the fourth set with a 25-23 win. The ‘Roos pulled within one late in the set at 24-23 on a Brittney Robers kills, but SDSU would score the next point and take the match. The two teams battled closely throughout the set, as the biggest lead was three, while 16 times the two teams were tied in the set.
In the match, Elizabeth Beck, Kelsey Knoche and Lucas all finished with 10 kills, while Robers added five. Nicole Kerkman finished with a team-high 16 digs, while Knoche chipped in 10 for her third double-double of the season.
The Blue and Gold will be back in action again tomorrow night when the take on North Dakota State at 7 p.m. in Fargo, N. D.
