UMSL Falls Short Against Panthers

St. Louis, Mo. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis volleyball team dropped a four-game match to visiting Drury University, losing 3-1 (30-27, 30-21, 20-30, 30-26).

Drury came out quickly in the first game, using an 11-0 run early in the game to take control. UMSL fought back late in the game and got within two points at 28-26 but eventually fell in that first game 30-27. The Panthers used another run early in the second game to take an 8-3 lead and continued to control the action for a 30-21 win in the second game. UMSL fought back in the third game and controlled the action after a slow start. Drury led 8-4 before UMSL came back and tied it at 11-11. The game was later tied at 15-15 when UMSL used a 4-0 run, sparked by two kills from Chelsea Baumstark (Hermann, Mo./Hermann) during that run. Drury closed to within four points at 24-20 before UM-St. Louis scored the final six point of the game, capped off by a service ace from Baumstark to win the third game 30-20. In the fourth game, UMSL had the early lead and led through most of the game before a late charge by the Panthers ended the comeback hopes for UM-St. Louis as Drury won the final game 30-26 to take the match.

UMSL was led by Chelsea Baumstark with 23 kills and just three errors on the night, and Christy Trame (Highland, Ill./Highland) had 16 kills and just one error to go along with four total blocks. Claudia Medina (Las Cruces, N.M./Las Cruces) had 11 kills and just three errors and Heather Nichols (Black Earth, Wis./Edgewood) added 10 kills. Medina led the team with 15 digs and Joslyn Brown (Plainfield, Ill./Joliet Catholic) added 12 digs while Lisa Brinker (Washington, Mo./Washington) had 56 assists.

UM-St. Louis falls to 8-14 on the season and is now 5-6 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. UMSL will be at home again on Saturday to host 16th-ranked Rockhurst at 2 pm.