The UMSL Tritons won their GLVC opener on Friday night and are 8-1 on the season. (Photo: Terrance Williams)

NCAA Women’s Volleyball1234Final
McKendree (2-7, 0-1)23232821(1)
#6 UMSL (8-1, 1-0)25252625(3)

NORMANDY, MO — The University of Missouri-St. Louis women’s volleyball team played its 2024 home opener, Friday night at the Mark Twain Building. And the No. 6-ranked team in the country looked every bit like a team that good, as it dispatched visiting McKendree three sets to one.

It was the Great Lakes Valley Conference opener for both clubs as well. UMSL won by scores of 25-23, 25-23, 26-28, 25-21.

Along with now being 1-0 in the GLVC, UMSL is 8-1 overall on the season. McKendree fell to 2-7 and 0-1.

The UMSL Tritons were ranked No. 6 in the country in this week’s AVCA Top 25 Women’s Volleyball Poll. (Photo: Terrance Williams)

The Tritons had four players reach double-figures in kills, led by senior Alayna Santel, who had 16 kills. Teammates Iyannah Jackson and Maggie Johnson both had 12 kills, while Hannah Copeland had 10.

All-American setter Caitlin Bishop had 51 assists and tied with Skylar Weaver for a team-high 15 digs.

The contest was a back and forth affair that saw both teams hold leads in all four sets. But UMSL was better in the clutch moments late in those sets and that was key in the Tritons earning the win.

In the first set, the match was tied at 16 before the Tritons went on a 5-1 run that gave them a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The second set was similar. McKendree led 20-15, but UMSL went on a 6-1 run to take the lead.

The Tritons won the last three points to close the set out.

McKendree played its best in the third set, which it won 28-26. UMSL actually had one match point, but couldn’t convert it, which led to the Bearcats taking the set.

In the fourth, McKendree led 17-15 and 19-17, but the Tritons were able to rally to tie both times, then won six of the match’s last eight points to claim the match.

UMSL will be back in action at the Mark Twain Building on Saturday. The Tritons will host Maryville in a match that will begin at 4 p.m.

2024 UMSL TRITONS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE

DateTimeSiteOpponentLocationTournament
September 21, 2024 (Saturday)4 p.m.HomeMaryvilleMark Twain Building
September 27, 2024 (Friday)6 p.m.AwayRockhurstKansas City, Mo. / Mason-Halpin Gymnsaium
September 28, 2024 (Saturday)4 p.m.AwayWilliam JewellLiberty, Mo. / Mabee Center
October 5, 2024 (Saturday)3 p.m.AwayMcKendreeLebanon, Ill. / Melvin Price Convocation Center
October 11, 2024 (Friday)6 p.m.Home#23 LewisMark Twain Building
October 12, 2024 (Saturday)3 p.m.HomeIndianapolisMark Twain Building
October 18, 2024 (Friday)TBDNeutralMidwest Region CrossoverHammond, Ind. / Hammond SportsplexMIDWEST REGIONAL VOLLEYBALL CROSSOVER
October 19, 2024 (Saturday)TBDNeutralMidwest Region CrossoverHammond, Ind. / Hammond SportsplexMIDWEST REGIONAL VOLLEYBALL CROSSOVER
October 25, 2024 (Friday)6 p.m.AwayMaryvilleChesterfield, Mo. / Moloney Arena
October 26, 2024 (Saturday)5 p.m.AwayMissouri S&TRolla, Mo. / Gibson Arena
November 1, 2024 (Friday)6 p.m.HomeTruman StateMark Twain Building
November 2, 2024 (Saturday)3 p.m.HomeUpper IowaMark Twain Building
November 8, 2024 (Friday)6 p.m.AwayQuincyQuincy, Ill. / Pepsi Arena
November 9, 2024 (Saturday)3 p.m.AwayIllinois SpringfieldSpringfield, Ill. / TRAC
November 15, 2024 (Friday)6 p.m.HomeSouthwest BaptistMark Twain Building
November 16, 2024 (Saturday)3 p.m.HomeDruryMark Twain Building
November 22, 2024 (Friday)TBDNeutralGLVC TournamentTBDGLVC Tournament
December 5, 2024 (Thursday)TBDNeutralNCAA Midwest RegionalTBDNCAA Midwest Regional
December 12, 2024 (Thursday)TBDNeutralNCAA ChampionshipsSioux Falls, S.D. / Sanford PentagonNCAA Championships