The UMSL Tritons celebrate winning both their matches over the weekend. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Nora Nichols
Staff Writer
NORMANDY, MO — The University of Missouri-St. Louis women’s volleyball team got off to an impressive start for the month of November.
The No. 19-ranked Tritons, who ended October by losing three straight matches, began the new month by righting their ship and winning a pair of home matches in straight sets over Truman State and Upper Iowa.
UMSL is now 17-5 on the season and 6-3 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. The Tritons are in fifth place in the league standings with four regular season matches left.
UMSL will play at first place and No. 18-ranked Quincy on Friday, November 8, and then at sixth place Illinois-Springfield next Saturday, November 9.
The Tritons’ final two regular season matches will be at home on November 15 and 16 against Southwest Baptist and Drury — two teams sitting near the bottom of the GLVC standings that are currently on the outside looking in to possibly qualifying for the GLVC Tournament in Williamsville, IL, November 22-24.
The winner of the GLVC Tournament will earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Midwest Regionals, which will begin in December. UMSL won the Midwest Regionals the last two seasons, doing so last year on its own home court at the Mark Twain Building.
UMSL sophomore Addison Voorhees had 12 kills in both Triton wins over the weekend. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
On Friday, UMSL made quick work of Truman State, defeating the Bulldogs, 25-22, 25-20, 25-15.
The Tritons were led by sophomore outside hitter Addison Voorhees and junior middle blockers Iyannah Jackson and Hannah Copeland. Voorhees had a match-high 12 kills, Jackson had 11, and Copeland added 10.
Setter Caitlin Bishop had 43 assists and two service aces, while teammates Rylee Edson and Skylar Weaver led the defense with 15 digs and 14 digs, respectively.
The first two sets were fairly tight, with both teams holding the lead at different points, before UMSL eventually pulled away late in both. The third set was all UMSL. The Tritons led by as many as 10 points before finally putting the Bulldogs away.
UMSL’s Skylar Weaver makes a dig during Friday’s win over Truman State. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
On Saturday, UMSL faced a stiffer test but still managed to sweep Upper Iowa, 25-17, 25-15, 25-22. The Peacocks grabbed the lead at the beginning of all three sets and forced the Tritons to battle for the victory.
And by doing so, UMSL extended its home winning streak to 25 matches. UMSL’s last home loss came in its season opener against Missouri S&T in 2022.
Dating back to 2019, in its last 50 home matches, UMSL is 47-3.
Against Upper Iowa, the Tritons didn’t hit as well, with only Voorhees reaching double-figures in kills (12). But UMSL took strong advantage of Upper Iowa’s own hitting errors and turned those into points that would eventually win the match.
Bishop had 35 assists. Senior libero Trysta Foster had 10 digs and Jackson had nine kills and four blocks.
UMSL’s match against Quincy on Friday, at the Pepsi Arena in Quincy, is set to begin at 6 p.m.
2024 UMSL TRITONS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | Site | Opponent | Location | Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 8, 2024 (Friday) | 6 p.m. | Away | #18 Quincy | Quincy, Ill. / Pepsi Arena | |
| November 9, 2024 (Saturday) | 3 p.m. | Away | Illinois Springfield | Springfield, Ill. / TRAC | |
| November 15, 2024 (Friday) | 6 p.m. | Home | Southwest Baptist | Mark Twain Building | |
| November 16, 2024 (Saturday) | 3 p.m. | Home | Drury | Mark Twain Building | |
| November 22-24, 2024 | TBD | Neutral | GLVC Tournament | Williams | GLVC Tournament |
| December 5-8, 2024 | TBD | Neutral | NCAA Midwest Regional | TBD | NCAA Midwest Regional |
| December 12-14 2024 | TBD | Neutral | NCAA Championships | Sioux Falls, S.D. / Sanford Pentagon | NCAA Championships |