ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Golden Suns dropped game one against tournament host Missouri Western 3-0, and turned around to sweep McKendree for their second game of the day.
MISSOURI WESTERN
Set one had a steady start to where the highest score-gap remained within a two-point range. Once the score hit 7-6 with the Griffins leading, they went on a four-point run and led 11-6. Though the scoring went back-and-forth through the set, the Suns were unable to obtain a lead and fell to the Griffins 25-17. Notable kills that helped the Suns keep up with a close score were from BryAnna Young, Henley Hooks, Savannah Meyer, Erika Hernandez and Sammie Smith.
The Griffins kept the momentum to start off set two with a three-point run. An attack error from the Griffins allowed the Suns to earn their first point, but Missouri Western jumped to the lead at 7-1 after a four-point run. A kill by Sammie Smith pushed the Suns to close the score gap up to 7-4. Like set one, the Griffins forced the Suns to drop set two and took it 25-13.
The score went to-and-fro to start set three and allowed the teams to tie at 3-3. But the Suns' attack error caused the Griffins to go on a seven-point run and took the lead 9-3. A kill by Erika Hernandez and Sammie Smith, as well as a Griffin attack error, allowed the Suns to catch up and closed the gap at 9-6. The Suns were halted and fell in set three 25-17.
Golden Sun Erika Hernandez led in kills totaling seven, and following shortly after is Sammie Smith with six and Savannah Meyer with five. Kenzie Garret led in assists with 16, and Savannah Meyer was also the leading player in digs with nine.
MCKENDREE
The Golden Suns had a slow start with set one and later gained traction mid-set. Kills by Kenzie Garret, Samantha Wojtowicz and Savannah Meyer allowed the Suns to tie the Bearcats 9-9. The Bearcats kept up a lead until the Suns, once again, tied the score 11-11. Through kills by Savannah Meyer and Henley Hooks, Tech jumped into the lead at 13-11. The Suns increased the score gap up to a six-points where they led 20-14 before the score tossed back-and-forth. A final kill by Savannah Meyer allowed the Suns to take set one 25-17.
Set two saw early energy from the Suns where they went on a six-point run and took the lead 6-0. Allison Jackson and Henley Hooks gained kills with assists by Kenzie Garret to later increase the score gap to 10-points. The Suns had the score at 13-3 and continued the drive. Savannah Meyer had another kill to end set two 25-17, once more.
Both teams were toe-to-toe for the majority of the time in set three where the score remained within a five-point range. With Tech leading after tying the score 2-2, kills by Erika Hernandez and Juliana Borchers boosted the Suns' score to 12-8. McKendree was able to tie the set 12-12 through service aces and kills, and closed off the score gap to remain within a two-point range.
All the way up to the teams tying 21-21, both teams' offensive players were able to rack up kill stats. One of the Suns' points was gained from a service ace by Kenzie Garrett, while two of the nine points were from the Bearcats' service errors. Once the score was tied, the Suns took off and won set three 25-21.
Erika Hernandez was the Golden Suns' leader in kills totaling 13, followed shortly after by Henley Hooks at 10 and Savannah Meyer at eight. Kenzie Garrett finished the match with a double-double with 35 assists and 14 digs (Karis Brinlee also tied Garrett in digs at 14).
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns come back for day two on Saturday, September 12 for the Holiday Inn Express Griffin Volleyball Invitational at 9:30 a.m. against Central Missouri, and Illinois-Springfield at 2:30 p.m.
