ADRIAN, Mich. -- The Siena Heights women's volleyball team split its two games on day two of the SHU Tournament losing 3-1 to Thomas More (25-19, 22-25, 25-18, 25-19) before downing Spring Arbor 3-1 (23-25, 26-24, 25-21, 25-23) to end the day. Aubrey Bates led the way for the Saints with 85 assists on the day to bring her four-game total to 181. Autumn Anderson led offensively with 22 kills for a weekend total of 55 (.169). Kadie Carsten also had a really good weekend with 43 kills (.161). Payton Osborne led SHU in digs with 47 on day two and 79 for the tournament. Olivia Norman totaled 19 blocks (13 BA, 6 BS) to lead the Saints at the net.
Game One - SHU 1, Thomas More 3
Set one was all Thomas More as TMU built a 19-10 in the first two-thirds of the game. The home team was able to cut the deficit to five points, but it was too late in the set to make much of a difference as Thomas More tallied the last point to take the 1-0 lead.
SHU took advantage in the second set and rose to a 19-13 lead. TMU rallied late and cut the lead to just one, 23-22 before Siena closed the door by grabbing the final two points to knot things up at one game apiece.
The hometown Saints jumped to a quick 7-1 advantage in the third but Thomas More battled back to tie the score at 12. The score remained with three points up until a 19-17 lead by TMU turned into 23-17 following a 4-0 run and gave Thomas More the 2-1 edge.
Siena Heights hung tough with the undefeated visitors in the fourth set, battling to eight ties up to a deadlock at 11 points. A 4-0 run sealed the match and the win for Thomas More after a 25-19 decision in the fourth set.
Game Two - SHU 3, SAU 1
Back-to-back 5-0 runs for the Cougars built a 17-8 lead in the first set of the nightcap. The Saints responded with an 8-0 run later that tied the score at 20. The score remained close from there and Spring Arbor was able to pull out a 25-23 win and take the 1-0 lead.
Set two remained close for the first part until a 5-0 run by Siena gave the team a 16-10 advantage. The Cougars used a 5-0 run later to recapture the lead, 22-19. SHU battled back to tie things up at 23 points. The teams traded scores to force extras where the Saints pulled out the 26-24 victory and tie the score at one-all.
The started with SHU on fire as the lead grew to 14-7. SAU didn't go quietly and rallied to knot things up at 20. Siena scored five of the last six points to earn the win and take the 2-1 lead.
In the fourth, the Cougars took a 19-14 advantage that forced the Saints to call a timeout. Out of the break, Siena Heights continued to show fight, but still trailed 22-17, however, an 8-0 run sparked by a kill from Norman allowed the Saints to take the set and the match.
All-Tournament Team
Kadie Carsten and Aubrey Bates were the Siena Heights representatives on the 2021 SHU Women's Volleyball All-Tournament Team.
Up Next
Siena travels to Lima, Ohio to face UNOH in the team's Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) opener on Wednesday, September 8 at 7:00 p.m., EST.
