COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Stephens Stars sweep Crowley's Ridge (25-7, 25-15, 25-16) in a match that doubled as their Breast Cancer Awareness event. The team improved to 9-14 overall and 4-1 in conference play, while Crowley's Ridge dropped to 5-11 (1-4).

Jamie Russell led the charge for the Stars, recording 10 kills and a .563 hitting percentage, while Amari Branch-Autman added 9 kills with a stellar .615 efficiency. Setter Emma Whitson dished out 36 assists and kept the offense flowing, also contributing a service ace.

In front of a lively crowd, Stephens players and fans alike donned pink to show support for breast cancer awareness. The team also sold commemorative t-shirts and raffled off a signed volleyball and jersey, raising funds for the Side-Out Foundation. 

After taking the first set in dominant fashion (25-7), highlighted by a service ace from Jatnna Pena-Perez and back-to-back kills from Jamie Russell and Amari Branch-Autman, Stephens faced a more competitive effort from Crowley's Ridge in the second set. 

The Stars leaned on Russell and Lena Hunziker to break away after an early 6-4 lead, with Hunziker delivering key kills and Emma Whitson contributing two service aces to extend the lead. The second set finished 25-15 after a kill by Russell off a Whitson assist.

In the third set, Crowley's Ridge briefly led 6-4, but Stephens quickly responded with a kill from Russell, followed by a block from Russell and Makenna Bollinger to regain control. 

A late push by Crowley's Ridge was thwarted by another kill from Russell to secure the set, 25-16, and the match. Stephens' balanced attack and strong defense, led by four blocks and sharp serving, limited Crowley's Ridge to a -.052 hitting percentage, as their attack faltered under the Stars' pressure.

Stephens will look to carry this momentum into their next match on October 22, when they travel to St. Louis to face the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy at 7 p.m.