Columbia, MO – Stephens College volleyball battled back from a two-set deficit Tuesday evening at Silverthorne Arena, forcing a decisive fifth set before falling to the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, 3-2.
The Stars dropped the opening two sets, 25-23 and 25-22, before responding with wins of 27-25 and 25-21 in the third and fourth sets. UHSP ultimately secured the match with a 15-12 victory in the fifth. The loss moved Stephens to 2-10 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
Stephens stayed within striking distance throughout a tightly contested opening set. The first frame featured 17 ties and 12 lead changes, but UHSP was able to come away with the final two points for the 25-23 win. The Stars continued to battle in the second before UHSP took a 2-0 match advantage with a 25-22 victory.
Facing a potential sweep, Stephens responded in the third set. The Stars fought through another back-and-forth frame that included 11 ties and seven lead changes, eventually edging UHSP 27-25 to extend the match.
Stephens carried that momentum into the fourth, posting its best attacking percentage of the first four sets at .220 while committing just four attack errors. The Stars claimed the set 25-21 to even the match at two sets apiece.
The fifth set remained close, with five ties and four lead changes, but UHSP pulled ahead late to take the deciding frame 15-12 and secure the five-set victory.
Jocelyn Rios led the Stephens offense with 16 kills while hitting .310, while Michalina Oles added 13 kills on a .256 hitting percentage. Mercedes Britto and Alyssa Jackson each finished with eight kills. Audrey Dinwiddie directed the offense with 49 assists while also adding two service aces and nine digs.
Defensively, Danika Brase led the Stars with a match-high 32 digs, while Alanis Francelino and Sabrina Rodriguez added 15 and 14 digs, respectively. Rodriguez also recorded a team-high three service aces. Stephens finished the night with 97 digs and 10 service aces as a team.
Stephens finished the match with 58 kills, while the five-set contest featured a combined 44 ties and 26 lead changes.
