OSKALOOSA, Iowa --- After stumbling with a first-match 3-0 defeat to Waldorf University (Iowa), the University of St. Francis Fighting Saints women's volleyball team closed Day 2 of the William Penn Labor Day Classic with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Graceland University (Iowa) on Saturday afternoon.  Against Graceland, USF overcame difficulty after dropping the first two sets to secure the win in a hard-fought, five-set match.
 
University of St. Francis vs. Waldorf
The Saints (5-3) were able to tie the score on seven different occasions in Set 1, but saw things quickly slip away as two kills and two service aces late in the set allowed the Warriors to capture the final four points in WU's first victory of the match.  Despite facing adversity in Set 2 and battling through a tight third set, Waldorf rallied with two crucial kills before an attacking error from USF resulted in the Waldorf win at 30-28 to close out the match.

Riley Hungate put together a solid performance for the Saints as she authored a double-double of 10 kills and 11 digs.  Desiree Anderson chipped in 10 kills of her own, while Ann Simon tallied 11 digs.

University of St. Francis vs. Graceland
St. Francis fought off an early deficit before rallying for the 3-2 win over Graceland.  After giving GU the first two sets, the Saints controlled Sets 3 ad 4, never relinquishing the lead throughout the duration of both games.  The final set began in USF's favor as it was able to hold an 8-4 advantage at the halfway mark.  The Yellowjackets fought their way back, however, to tie the set at 11-11 before three straight USF kills would see the Saints one point away from victory.  Graceland responded with three straight kills of its own to tie the score at 14-14, but St. Francis would capitalize on two back-to-back GU errors to win the set 16-14 and walk away with the 3-2 victory.

Hungate led the way again for the Saints with her second double-double of the day (16 kills, 17 digs).  Anderson would showcase a double-double of her own with 14 kills and 17 digs.  Kaylie Sippel captained the offense with authority as she registered 32 assists and chipped in 15 digs on defense.  The Saints outhit the Yellowjackets .220 to .153.

St. Francis has three days of rest before it returns to action on September 4.  USF will be on the road in Palos Heights, Ill. to take on Trinity Christian College at 7 pm in the Saints' first Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference competition of the 2024 season.

You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.