KIRKSVILLE, Mo.--The Truman Volleyball was back in action Wednesday as they took on #9 Missouri-St. Louis for their first match since a tri-match in Evansville on March 13th. The first set was very evenly matched, but at the end of the second UMSL gained the upper hand and won 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-22).

After UMSL took the first two points of the first set, Truman answered with the next four. Ellie Kaat collected the first of her 14 kills as the Bulldogs took a 4-2 lead. Truman proceeded to take three of the next four to build a 7-3 lead. Eventually UMSL tied it up at nine, but back to back kills from Morgan Smith and Emma Berthold reestablished the Truman lead at 11-9. UMSL would tie the set at 11, and it was the first of 21 points that alternated between the two teams. With the match tied at 21, UMSL broke the pattern by scoring two more in a row and led 23-21. Berthold brough the Bulldogs back within one, and UMSL answered. Smith got a kill on the first setpoint, but UMSL finished the set with the second setpoint.

Behind kills from Smith and Kaat as well as two service aces from Rachel DeFries, Truman took a 5-0 lead in the second set. With the set at 8-3 Truman, UMSL scored five straight to even the set. Kills from Berthold, Allison Beaton and Smith gave Truman a three point lead. UMSL answered with three in a row, and later with the set tied at 13, Truman scored four straight--with Kaat racking up three kills in that stretch. But once again UMSL answered with four in a row, part of closing the set on a 12-3 run and ultimately taking the set from the Bulldogs.

The third set opened in the opposite way of the first set at UMSL got the first four. From there the top ten nationally ranked Tritons controlled the set and held the Bulldogs at bay. A late 4-0 with kills from Ainsley Heise and Smith gave the Bulldogs a chance at 21-17, and later a kill from Kaat made it 23-21 UMSL. But ultimately the Bulldogs could not complete the comeback and dropped the match.

Kaat led with 14 kills, while Smith added eight. DeFries led with two aces and 17 assists, while Lindsay Woltering led with 18 digs.

This weekend the Bulldogs are headed on the road for matches at Lindenwood Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Quincy at 3:00 p.m. Saturday.