ST. LOUIS—The Truman Volleyball team dropped its third straight match Tuesday night as they fell to Maryville 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-23, 25-17). Hanna Berry had a career night for the Bulldogs, setting career highs in both digs with 23 and kills with 16. Allison Beaton also set a new career high in blocks with 11 total.
Early on in the first set, Maryville had the early edge taking seven of the first ten points—but a 3-0 run from the Bulldogs closed the gap to one. After an error gave the Bulldogs a point, Morgan Smith and Beaton got a block and then Smith picked up a kill to bring the Bulldogs within one. But from there MU went on a 4-0 run and the Bulldogs could not pull within four at any point the rest of the set.
Down 5-2 to open the second set, Truman went on a 7-0 run that saw Berry pick up four kills and an assisted block to push the Bulldogs ahead. The Bulldogs expanded their lead to 13-6 after back to back plays with Beaton and Monica Brown combining for blocks. But MU rallied in the set and made it to set point at 24-22. From there, the Bulldogs reeled off four straight with a kill from Smith, an ace from Macy Vanfossan and two more kills from Smith to close the set.
Maryville took back the momentum from the Bulldogs and led the entire third set until the very end when the teams got neck and neck. Back to back kills from Smith made it a 22-all draw. A Smith error and then kill made it 23 apiece, but the Saints got the final two points to take the third set.
In the fourth set, once again Maryville jumped out to an early lead and Truman was unable to catch up. Early on MU held a 5-3 lead and that was the closest that Truman would get the rest of the set. Each time it looked like the Bulldogs were putting something together the Saints pushed the Bulldogs back to arms length away and finished the set and the match.
Smith led the team with 21 kills, one off her career high, Rachel DeFries led with 20 assists and Vanfossan led with 26 digs.
The busy week for the Bulldogs will continue tomorrow night across the river in the Land of Lincoln as they take on Quincy for the second time this year. First serve at 7 pm from Pepsi Arena.
