MARION, Ind. --- Playing in its toughest tournament of the season with a pair of ranked teams on the slate, the University of St. Francis women's volleyball team opened the two-day event dropping a 25-11, 25-23, 25-15 decision to Campbellsville University (Mo.) followed by a 25-20, 25-12, 25-15 setback to NAIA No. 13 Columbia College (Mo.) on Friday night.

Gabriela Oliveira led USF's offense with 23 kills, while Kaylie Sippel posted 51 assists.  Defensively, the Saints gained 19 digs from Desiree Anderson.

Match 1: Campbellsville (Ky.) def. USF 25-11, 25-23, 25-15
Campbellsville (11-8) opened the match by scoring the game's first seven points in coasting to the first-set win. 

In Set 2, the Fighting Saints (6-10) used a 5-0 run early in the contest to open up a 6-3 lead fueled by a pair of Oliveira kills.  USF would lead as late as 22-20 before Campbellsville responded with five of the set's final six points to win 25-23.

Set 3 saw the Tigers build an early 9-3 advantage with St. Francis only being able to get as close as four points (13-9) the rest of the night.

Match 2: Columbia (Mo.) def. USF 25-20, 25-12, 25-15
The Saints (6-11) gave Columbia all it could handle in a first set that included eight ties and five lead changes.  USF led as late as 16-15 before succumbing.

In Set 2, Columbia (18-4) jumped out to a 13-3 lead and never looked back.

A close game early in Set 3 with three ties, Columbia used separate 6-0 and 5-0 runs to pull away for the win.

Notes: The task gets no easier for the Saints on Saturday when they go up against NAIA No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan University and Taylor University (Ind.) on Saturday morning.

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