Women's Volleyball Drops Its Final Two Games At The Bear Invite

ST. LOUIS, Mo.—The Fontbonne University women's volleyball team closed out the Bear Invite falling in straight sets against North Park and Cornell College.

Game One

Final: North Park def. Fontbonne (25-20, 25-14, 25-21)

Location: St. Louis, Mo.

Records: North Park 2-1, Fontbonne 0-3

How It Happened

In the first set, the two teams met-up at 8-8 on a Vikings service error. North Park rattled off a 5-0 run, but Fontbonne trimmed away at the deficit and eventually took a 15-14 lead on consecutive kills from Maura Rabun.

Trailing 16-15, the Vikings responded with a 5-0 run to take the 20-16 lead. The team never looked back and went on for the 25-20 win.

Fontbonne played its best set of the weekend at that point with 15 kills and just three errors for a .286 hitting percentage.

In the second set, the Vikings opened with a 12-4 lead on a Kate Widman service ace. It was all North Park the rest of the way en route to the 25-14 win.

In the third, a kill from Olivia Tallo gave Fontbonne the early 9-8 lead. The Vikings regained the lead and expanded its advantage out to 15-11 on a block assist from Kate Widman and Bethan Geidner.

The Griffins narrowed the deficit down to 21-18 on a block assist from Rabun and Macy Neff, but that'd be as close as they'd get with the Vikings hanging on for the 25-21 set and match win.

Inside The Numbers

• Fontbonne set new season-high marks with 31 kills, a .167 hitting percentage, and 28 assists.
• The Griffins struggled at the service line and receptions with 12 service errors and 15 reception errors.
• North Park posted 31 kills and a .208 hitting percentage.
• Defensively, they ended with a match-high 52 digs and eight block assists.

Fontbonne Leaders

• Rabun led with nine kills and tied her career-high with a .600 hitting percentage.
• Emma Seiz concluded with a season-high six kills.
• Setter Jessica Molden recorded her first collegiate double-double with 16 assists and led defensively with 12 digs.
• Megan Schaller and Daisy Watkins added 11 and 10 digs, respectively.

North Park Leaders

• Kailyn Matthews led with nine kills and a .217 hitting percentage.
• Reagan Clement, Bethany Geidner, and Kate Widman had five kills each.
• Kajsa Meyer dished out 11 assists and Christina Gatta tied Molden with a match-high 12 digs.

Game Two

Final: Cornell def. Fontbonne (25-14, 25-17, 25-18)

Location: St. Louis, Mo.

Records: Cornell 2-0, Fontbonne 0-4

How It Happened

In the first set, the Griffins grabbed a 9-7 lead on a kill from Rabun. Later, Rae Andrews put Fontbonne down 12-11 after her kill. However, the Rams closed out the set on a 13-3 run for the 25-14 win.

In the second set, the Griffins trailed 6-5 on a Rams attack error. Cornell rattled off a 9-0 run, including getting four kills from Alissa McEndaffer during that stretch. The Rams were able to go on for the 25-17 set win.

In the third, a kill from Rabun put Fontbonne within striking distance at 9-7. The Rams, though went on a 7-2 run to own a 16-9 lead on McEndaffer's kill and force the Griffins to take a timeout. Out of the break, Fontbonne trimmed it down to 20-15, but the Rams fended off Fontbonne for the 25-18 set and match win.

Inside The Numbers

• Fontbonne totaled 21 kills and 22 errors for a negative -.011 hitting percentage.
• The Rams ended with 35 kills and a .250 hitting percentage.
• Cornell finished with 43 digs defensively and 10 block assists.

Fontbonne Leaders

• Rabun and Olivia Tallo tied with five kills each.
• Jill Reando added 11 assists.
• Defensively, Megan Schaller led with a match-high 14 digs. Demi Voyles set a career-high with 10 digs.

Cornell Leaders

• McEndaffer posted a match-high 10 kills and .259 hitting percentage.
• Setter Danielle Amonica dished out a match-high 22 assists.
• Sydney Meeker contributed 13 digs.

Up Next

The Griffins will be back in action next Saturday for its home opener against Avila. First-service at 12 p.m., followed by another 4 p.m. contest.

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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