LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The W volleyball found itself on the short end of a pair of St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) losses, falling to host Spalding University, 3-1, and versus Westminster College, 3-0. The Owls (2-7, 0-4 SLIAC) lost to the Golden Eagles (5-7, 3-1 SLIAC) by set scores of 25-17, 25-16, 25-27, 25-21) and to the Blue Jays (8-11, 4-0 SLIAC), 25-18, 25-13, 25-18) at Columbia Gym.
It was MUW's second loss to Westminster within a week (also falling to the Jays in Fulton, Mo., last Saturday).
In its first match of the day versus Spalding, the Owls seemed to gain momentum as the match went on. After losing those first two sets, The W powered back to win the third, thanks to an impressive .314 team attack average, before dropping a tight fourth set that featured 10 ties and 10 lead changes.
Junior transfer
MC Brown led the Owls with 15 kills and a healthy .257 attack average in her 35 attempts. Brown finished with a double-double by making 10 digs, as well.
Avery Watts paced all the Owls' starters with a .389 attack average. Watts powered down nine total kills in 18 attempts, making just two errors.
Freshman standout
Megan Neeb matched Watts' nine kills. Neeb had a team-best three blocks, while also chipping in seven digs on defense.
Sophomore libero
Bailee Schmitt led the back row with 13 digs. Freshman setter
Madison Wood added 12 digs and 38 assists.
In its second match, MUW was blanked by Westminster for the second time in as many meetings this season. The Owls hit a paltry .022 attack average, compared to a .364 clip by the Blue Jays.
Brown's eight kills capped the Owls' attack, while also contributing nine digs.
Amonie Silas had seven kills and also had a match-leading four aces and seven digs to her credit.
Schmitt had 10 digs, the only back row player in double digits. Wood gave off 18 assists.
The W will look to regroup on Monday (Sept. 30/6 p.m.) with a non-conference bout at Crowley's Ridge College in the second half of the home-and-home series between the teams this season. The W topped the Pioneers, 3-1, in the season-opening match in Columbus back on August 30.
