Eisnaugle Leads UMSL Past Bellarmine

St. Louis, Mo. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis volleyball team got back on the winning track Friday night, defeating visiting Bellarmine University 3-0 (30-18, 30-28, 30-22), snapping a three-match losing streak for UMSL.

UMSL got off to a quick start in the first game, jumping out to a 6-1 lead to open the match. Bellarmine would cut it back down to just three points at 13-10, but UMSL got a kill from Claudia Medina (Las Cruces, N.M./Las Cruces) followed by a block to go up 15-10. UM-St. Louis would push their lead up to ten points at 25-15 before closing out the 30-18 win in the opening game. UMSL fell behind early in the second game, trailing 7-3 before making a comeback. UM-St. Louis tied it at 8-8, and then took a 10-9 lead on a kill from Sarah Eisnaugle (Newark, Ill./Newark) for the first of four straight points for UMSL. Bellarmine would battle back and tie it at 18-18, but UMSL got three straight kills from Medina, Erin Denton (Crystal City, Mo./Crystal City) and Christy Trame (Highland, Ill./Highland) to extend their lead back to three points at 21-18. Bellarmine again tied it up at 21-21 before UMSL got a kill from Denton and two straight service aces from Trame to take a 24-21 lead. The Knights once again bounced back and tied it at 26-26, but UMSL responded right back once again. Shamika Williams (St. Louis, Mo./Pattonville) broke the tie with a kill, and Eisnagule and Medina followed with a kill each as UMSL held on for the 30-28 win in game two. The third game was another close battle before UMSL pulled away late. The game was tied 11-11 when UMSL got a service ace from Eisnaugle to give UM-St. Louis the lead that was extended to 14-11. Bellarmine would get within two points at 20-18 before UMSL got back-to-back kills from Eisnaugle to take control and closed out the match with an ace to secure the 30-22 win in game three.

UMSL was led in the match by Sarah Eisnaugle, who had 12 kills and just one error in 19 attempts for a .579 hitting percentage. Claudia Medina and Christy Trame each had nine kills on the night. Lisa Brinker had 34 assists and Joslyn Brown led the team with 12 digs. UMSL added eight service aces on the night as well. UM-St. Louis improves to 6-11 on the season and 3-4 in the GLVC. UMSL will be at home again on Saturday when they host Northern Kentucky at 2 pm.