BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- The University of St. Francis women's volleyball season came to an end on Tuesday night as the Fighting Saints dropped a 25-17, 25-14, 26-25 decision to Olivet Nazarene University in the opening round of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament.
Sara McGraw's six kills carried the Saints, who finished the season at 9-18. She also authored a .357 attack percentage.
Annika Van Heemst (5) and
Alyssa Ignasak (4) combined to produce nine additional kills, as well, while
Kennedy Walker and
Ann Simon topped the St. Francis dig chart with eight apiece. Other contributors included
Abigail Ryan (eight assists) and
Aubrey Phillips (two solo and two assisted blocks).
Olivet Nazarene gained 12 kills from Alexandria Lowery and 10 apiece from Sabrina Sanif and Naomi Monney-Hori. The Tigers (24-9) also totaled nine blocks with Sanif taking credit for five.
The start of each of the three sets were tight throughout with 10 total ties taking place within the first 10 points of each frame, but the Saints just could not get the closing kick in any of the sets.
The first set was tied at 6-6 before Olivet Nazarene went on a 9-5 run to go up 15-11. The Saints got within two points on two separate occasions after that, but could not break down the barrier any closer in falling 25-17.
In Set 2, the Tigers took off quick and won the race to 15 with a nine-point scoring gap. The Saints later put together a four-point run to come within seven points, but could never recover from the slow start as the Tigers ran off six of the final eight points to win 25-14.
St. Francis trailed early in Set 3 before putting together five points in a row courtesy of kills from
Olivia Cosgrove and Van Heemst and two service aces from Ryan to take a six-point lead at 21-15. Olivet Nazarene responded with nine of the next 11 points to soar ahead 24-23 before an ONU service error knotted the score at 24-24. The hosts, however, did not fold and secured the final two points via back-to-back kills from Lowery to seal the sweep and end the Saints' season with a final score of 26-24.
The final team leaderboard for the season had
Alyssa Teske registering the most kills (222) and points (241.0), along with the highest attack percentage (.375).
Landry Hall led the way with her 415 assists, and Simon topped the dig chart (230) with
Aubrey Phillips totaling a team-best 77.0 blocks.
You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.
