Griffins Overcome Two-Set Deficit To Defeat Blue Jays; Schaller Tallies 1,000th Career Assist

FULTON, Mo.—The Fontbonne University women's volleyball team erased a two-set deficit en route to a key St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) win over Westminster in five sets (21-25, 12-25, 25-22, 25-21, 16-14). Setter Megan Schaller also became the seventh Griffin all-time to reach 1,000 assists.

After a slow start, the Griffins (7-12; 6-7 SLIAC) finished with 57 kills, a .161 hitting percentage, 68 digs, and 14 block assists.

Individually, Kristina Eason posted a season-high 17 kills and 13 digs. She's now just 10 kills away from 1,000 in her career. Victoria Curtice tied her season-high with 12 kills, a .265 hitting percentage, and 12 digs.

Maura Rabun, meanwhile, compiled 11 kills and three block assists of her own. Schaller and Abby Grumich tied with 22 assists each, while Sarah Borgerding posted a team-high 14 digs.

Westminster (11-10; 9-5 SLIAC), concluded with 58 kills, a .158 hitting percentage, 78 digs, and 10 block assists. Allie Kennebeck led the match with 18 kills but had 13 errors for a .085 hitting percentage.

Setter Jill Reando dished out a match-high 39 assists, while Bridget Ringwald totaled a match-high 24 digs.

In the first set, the Griffins opened with a 6-0 lead and Eason's kill that made it a 9-5 game gave Schaller her 1,000 career assist. The two teams eventually met-up at 17-17, then a kill from Natalie Needy gave Westminster an 18-17 lead. They were able to fend off Fontbonne the rest of the way and go on for the 25-21 opening set win.

In the second, the Blue Jays took a commanding 11-3 lead. WC stayed hot as they finished with 15 kills and just one error in the set winning, 25-12.

In the third, the Griffins held a marginal 15-13 lead on a block assist from Eason and Emma Seiz. Later, the Blue Jays tied it at 21-21, but consecutive kills from Curtice and Eason put Fontbonne ahead by two.

WC narrowed it down to one on the next point, though another kill from Eason and a block assist once again from Eason and Seiz forced a fourth set with the 25-22 victory.

In the fourth, the Blue Jays tried to put the Griffins away early with a 12-6 lead. Fontbonne continued to chip away at the advantage but still trailed 20-16. Then, the team closed out the set on a 9-1 run for the 25-21 win.

In the finale, the Griffins were the first team in the race to eight points as a Curtice kill gave them the 8-7 advantage. Westminster eventually got the lead back at 12-9, but the Griffins responded with a 5-0 run and were a point away from taking the match.

WC kept things going on a Griffins service and attack error. However, a kill from Rabun and another Blue Jays attack error gave Fontbonne the 16-14 match victory.

The team looks to continue its winning ways on Friday night against Spalding. First-service goes up at 7 p.m.

Fans make sure to stay updated on fontbonnegriffins.com throughout the year for full updates and recaps on the women's volleyball team.

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