In a match similar to many matches Seattle University has been involved in this season, the Redhawks split the first two sets, but could not stop the offense of UMKC after intermission, as the Kangaroos went on to a 3-1 victory (25-17, 21-15, 25-18, 25-16) Thursday night in Western Athletic Conference volleyball action at the Swinney Recreation Center.
In the opening set, Seattle U jumped out to a 6-2 lead thanks in part to two kills and a block assist from Matea Mamic (Split, Croatia), but UMKC scored the next four points to tie the set at 6-6. The set went back-and-forth until the Kangaroos put together a 9-1 scoring run to close out the set, led by two kills and a block assist by Emma Hagedorn as well as three service aces.
Stephanie Stoll (Bellevue, Wash.) earned three early kills to lead Seattle U to an early 5-2 lead in the second set, but the Kangaroos once again responded, this time with four unanswered points to tie the set at 9-9. A service ace by McKenzie Daniels (Edmonds, Wash.) capped off a quick Redhawk run to put Seattle U on top, 16-14, but UMKC would fight back again, using a kill by Jessica Hendin and a block by Morgan Voorhes and Melissa Hartsel to cause another tie at 20-20. The Redhawks scored five of the last six points of the set, including four kills by four different players, to win the second set and even the match at one set apiece.
The third set started with a block by Mamic and Stoll as well as a service ace from Martina Samadan (Split, Croatia), but the Kangaroos picked up four straight points, led by a kill and a service ace from Hendin. After back-to-back kills by Mamic and Allison Farley (Happy Valley, Ore.) tied the set at 5-5, UMKC scored five straight points, led by Sydney Crimmins with two kills and a solo block. The Kangaroos led the set the rest of the way, closing it out with three straight points, the final two on blocks involving Hagedorn.
UMKC (15-12, 9-6 WAC) fell behind early in the fourth set by committing some errors, but kills by Voorhes and Hagedorn allowed the Kangaroos to pull even with the Redhawks. A 4-0 UMKC run that featured back-to-back blocks by Hendin and Skyler Muff gave the Kangaroos a 12-9 lead, and then a 5-1 scoring run extended the lead to 18-12. Kansas City closed out the set and the match on another 5-1 scoring run, with Muff clinching matters on two kills.
Sarah Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.) notched a double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs, while Samadan finished with 10 kills, Mamic contributed nine kills and six digs, and Stoll added seven kills and four total blocks. Kerry Lane (Tucson, Ariz.) collected 41 assists and nine digs, and Lani Beadle (Seattle, Wash.) led the Redhawks with 14 defensive digs.
Crimmins made only one attack error, finishing with 14 kills in 25 attempts for a .520 hitting percentage, while Hendin earned 11 kills, three service aces, and four block assists. Hagedorn contributed seven kills and seven total blocks, and libero Taryn Miller seemingly did not let any ball hit the ground, accumulating 30 defensive digs during the match.
Seattle University (11-19, 8-7 WAC) will close out the regular season at Chicago State Saturday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. local time (5 p.m. Pacific time). The Redhawks will then prepare for their first round match of the WAC Volleyball Tournament Monday, Nov. 25, in Phoenix, Ariz.