Taylor Downs Saint Francis in Four Sets
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UPLAND, Ind. – The Taylor volleyball team (7-12, 2-5 CL) cruised to a much-needed victory at home Wednesday evening, defeating Saint Francis in four sets behind a strong night from the service line and from its attackers.
Ava Kraft powered a .250 hitting performance for the Trojans with 14 kills on 29 swings, while McKaylah Flagle, Lindsay Springer and Suzanne Storey added two aces apiece.
Kraft had six kills in the first set and was instrumental in helping TU overcome an early 3-0 hole to take it 25-17.
Eight of the final nine points in that opening set were awarded to Taylor, a stretch that included five kills and an ace.
The Trojans trailed by as many as four points in the second frame but regrouped with aid from a variety of TU contributors and opposition errors to enter the third set ahead 2-0.
Saint Francis (7-12, 0-7 CL) was able to jump out to an early lead again in that third set, this time with enough momentum to force a fourth frame.
Taylor bounced back with a dominant fourth set, 25-16, which snapped a five-match slide and was fittingly bookended by a Kraft kill that marked her second set of the night in which she recorded six kills.
Grace Ieremia and Shaye Watson both added six kills total throughout the match, with Springer and Jaylynn Dunsmore notching five apiece.
Springer netted a match-high 30 assists as the junior closes in on 2,000 in a Trojan uniform. The junior setter currently sits at 1,982 career assists at Taylor.
TU hosts cross-country rival, No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan (14-2, 7-0 CL) Saturday at 3 p.m. inside Odle Arena.