UMSL Pushes Washington University to Five Games in Loss

Riverwomen Fall in Five to Top-Ranked Washington University

St. Louis, Mo. – The Missouri-St. Louis volleyball team took on local rival Washington University on Wednesday and took the top-ranked Bears to five games before falling 3-2 (30-24, 31-33, 25-30, 30-25, 15-7). Washington University (12-0) is ranked number on in the country, and marked the fifth opponent this year for UMSL (1-10) who was ranked in the top 20 in the country.

Washington came out strong and took the first game 30-24. In the second game, UMSL got off to a quick start, scoring the first six points of the game before the Bears charged back. UMSL was able to hold of Washington late and won he second game 33-31. UM-St. Louis then rode that momentum into the third game and won that game 30-25 to take a 2-1 advantage. The Bears would hold strong in the fourth game and win 30-25 to force a fifth and deciding game. Washington got off to a quick start in the final game, leading 10-3 before closing it out with a 15-7 win.

UMSL was led by Claudia Medina (Las Cruces, N.M./Las Cruces) with 21 kills, her second straight match with 20-plus kills. Medina also added 16 digs and three service aces. Heather Nichols (Black Earth, Wis./Edgewood) had 15 kills and a team best 18 digs and Chelsea Baumstark (Hermann, Mo./Hermann) added 12 kills for UMSL. Lisa Brinker (Washington, Mo./Washington) added 44 assists for UMSL.

UMSL is now 1-10 on the season and will be on the road this weekend to resume conference play. The Riverwomen, who are 1-1 in the GLVC, will play at Saint Joseph’s on Friday night and at Indianapolis on Saturday afternoon.