WINFIELD, Kan. — Southwestern fell in straight sets at Saint Mary, 26-24, 25-19, 25-19, despite eight kills a piece from S. Dippre and A. Bennett at Ryan Sports Center.

Southwestern (0-0) hit .143 and finished with 27 kills, but the Spires' serve-pass pressure swung the match. Saint Mary totaled 11 aces, including four from A. Bojanski and three from D. Rivera-Perez, and hit .220 behind C. Byrd's match-high. She had14 kills on .542 hitting. M.J. Stephens added 11 kills.

The Builders had chances in the opener, turning a 13-12 deficit into a 21-19 lead on Ashlyn Tag ace and kills from Macey Collier and Sarah Dippre. Saint Mary answered with a late push and was sparked by an ace and two swings from Stephens and closed the set 26-24 with a kill from Byrd. Set 2 featured nine ties before the Spires separated with a 5-1 burst to make the score (18-13) and they kept control. Early service runs in the third created the cushion Saint Mary needed to finish the sweep.

Sarah Dippre hit .312 (8-3-16) to pace Southwestern, while Bennett added two blocks (one solo). Macey Collier contributed four kills on .286 with two block assists, and Emily Howerton was efficient at .750 (3-0-4). Reece Likes and Natalie Blaufuss split the setting duties with 12 and 11 assists, respectively, and libero Avery Riedel collected a match-best with12 digs on the night. Southwestern notched four aces but was hurt by 11 service errors and 11 reception errors.

Southwestern heads to Sterling on Saturday for a 12PM first serve in Sterling, Kan.