The UMSL women’s volleyball team celebrates match point, following its five-set victory over Lindenwood, Friday night at the Mark Twain Building in St. Louis. (Photo: Cedric Williams)

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LINDENWOOD (13-8, 6-4)24252521102
UMSL (17-6,10-2)26222125153

by Cedric Williams
Senior Editor

ST. LOUIS – After falling behind two sets to one, as upstart Lindenwood took Sets 2 and 3 in a key Great Lakes Valley Conference match at the Mark Twain Building, Friday night, the University of Missouri-St. Louis women’s volleyball team responded by winning the final two sets to claim a tense five-set victory over their crosstown rivals from St. Charles.

UMSL was led by senior All-American candidate Charlotte Richards, who had a team-high 15 kills and 18 digs, led a balanced attack by the Tritons, who moved their overall record to 17-6 and their GLVC mark to 10-2.

The win gives UMSL a three-game lead (four on the win side) in the GLVC Central Division standings with just six matches to play in the regular season.

Lindenwood, who is in second place, fell to 13-8 overall and 6-4 in conference play, and would need to win all of its remaining matches, including a rematch between the two clubs on November 9 at Lindenwood, in order to catch UMSL in the division championship race.

The Tritons can thank the big contributions it got from the rest of its squad for its comeback victory on Friday.

Junior hitters Olivia Klank and Maya Elliott were both dynamite for the Tritons. Klank had 12 kills and five blocks on the night, and Elliott added 11 kills and four blocks, as UMSL responded to losing the second and third sets by dominating the fourth and fifth ones.

Senior middle blocker Paige Yoder was also a key factor, as she had 11 kills on just 20 attempts, for a sensational .550 hitting percentage. Fellow senior Kaileen Hermann had 42 assists and 15 digs, and teammate Megan Woll had a match-high 36 digs to lead the Triton defense.

Lindenwood was led by senior middle blocker Mackenzi Sifuentes, who had a match-high 16 kills and nine blocks, while teammates Aubrey Weber and Rebecca Janke added 13 kills and 11 kills, respectively.

The Lions took over the match beginning late in the second set, when they responded to falling behind 21-20 by winning five of the remaining six points to claim the set 25-22.

Then in the third set, Lindenwood grabbed the lead early and led by as much as 14-7, but saw a set of miscues help UMSL rally to take the lead late at 19-17.

But the Lions rallied themselves to quickly regain the lead and eventually take the set 25-21.

That was the last lead Lindenwood would have on the night, as UMSL dominated the final two sets.

The Tritons grabbed a quick 3-2 edge in the fourth set, then overpowered the Lions to grab a 10-point leads at 18-8, 19-9, and 20-10. Lindenwood tried to rally itself again, and got as close as 23-21, but UMSL claimed the frame 25-21.

That set up a dramatic fifth and final set, which UMSL again took control of early, and built an early 5-1 lead. The Tritons pushed ahead midway through at 12-6, then closed out the match on the power of back-to-back kills by Yoder to claim the final set 15-10.

UMSL will enjoy the rest of the weekend off before beginning the home stretch of the regular season, which will feature for them five of their six remaining matches at home.

In fact, the Tritons won’t have to leave town again until the GLVC Tournament because that one remaining road match is at Lindenwood in St. Charles.

Lindenwood will be right back in action Saturday night, as the Lions will travel north to play Quincy at 6 p.m.

UMSL’s next match is Tuesday night, November 2, when it will host Quincy at 7 p.m.

UMSL Tritons Women’s Volleyball Upcoming Schedule
Tue., November 2 — vs. Quincy — 7 pm
Fri., November 5 — vs. Indianapolis — 7 pm
Sat., November 6 — vs. Lewis — 3 pm
Tue., November 9 — at Lindenwood — 7 pm
Fri., November 12 — vs. Maryville — 7 pm
Sat., November 13 — vs. Truman State — 2 pm
All UMSL home volleyball matches will be played at the Mark Twain Building