Sophomore defensive specialist Skylar Weaver led a pair of strong defensive efforts by the sixth-ranked UMSL volleyball team in wins against McKendree and Maryville. She had a team-high 36 digs as the Tritons improved to 9-1 on the season. (Photo by Patrick Clark/Athlete’s Eye Photography)
Volleyball
Visiting teams to the Mark Twain Athletic Center haven’t found the University of Missouri–St. Louis Tritons to be very hospitable hosts in recent seasons. The Tritons, now ranked sixth in the country, haven’t lost a home match since their 2022 season opener, and they extended their home winning streak to 21 matches over the weekend with victories against McKendree and Maryville. UMSL topped the Bearcats 25-23, 25-23, 26-28, 25-21 in Friday’s home opener and swept the Saints 25-22, 31-29, 25-17 on Saturday to improve to 9-1 on the season. With junior setter Caitlin Bishop directing the Tritons’ attack, freshman Alayna Santel had a team-high 16 kills against McKendree, and fellow newcomers Iyannah Jackson and Maggie Johnson had 12 each. Bishop finished with 51 assists and tied Skylar Weaver with a team-best 15 digs. Weaver led another strong defensive effort against Maryville, registering a team-best 21 digs, one shy of her season high, while helping the Tritons hold the Saints to a .150 hitting percentage. UMSL hit .233 but came on strong in the third set with 17 kills and only four errors in its 33 total attacks. For the match, Addison Voorhees and Santel each registered 12 kills, and Bishop finished with 44 assists. UMSL will open Great Lakes Valley Conference play this week when it travels to Rockhurst on Friday and William Jewell on Saturday.
Men’s Soccer
The Tritons picked up their first GLVC victory of the season on Sunday when they beat Rockhurst 3-1 in Kansas City. UMSL, coming off a scoreless draw on Friday night at Southwest Baptist, fell behind 1-0 in the 18th minute and trailed by the same score at intermission against the Hawks. But the Tritons ignited for three goals after intermission with Michael Quinn pulling them even in the 58th minute and Jon Campbell scoring twice just over five minutes apart to put them ahead. Campbell, a Lindenwood transfer, now has a team-best five goals this season. Austin Reis made six saves in Sunday’s victory. He also started Friday evening’s draw and registered a pair of saves in a match that saw the Bearcats get off only five shots. The Tritons (3-2-1-, 1-1-1 GLVC) return home this week, taking on Lincoln on Friday and Missouri S&T on Sunday at the Don Dallas Soccer Field.
Women’s Soccer
UMSL returns home this week still looking for its first victory in GLVC play after playing Southwest Baptist to a scoreless draw on Friday in Bolivar, Missouri, and falling to Rockhurst 2-0 on Sunday in Kansas City. The Tritons outshot the Bearcats 29-2, including a 10-0 advantage in shots on goal, on Friday, but they couldn’t get the ball past Southwest Baptist goalkeeper Cece Alexander. UMSL continued to get the better of play in the first half against Rockhurst, outshooting the home team 5-1 before intermission. But the Tritons couldn’t score, and the Hawks’ offense came to life in the second half. The Hawks outshot the visitors 9-1 after the break, and Anna Lantz scored a pair of goals four minutes apart. Goalkeeper Mary Kate Neal finished with four saves. UMSL (3-2-1, 0-2-1 GLVC) will look to spark its offense before playing host to Lincoln on Friday and Missouri S&T on Sunday.
Women’s Golf
The Tritons finished ninth out of 13 teams in the DBU Classic, which wrapped up Tuesday at Robson Ranch Golf Club in Denton, Texas. UMSL posted a combined score of 884 in a tournament won by host Dallas Baptist University. Junior Wilma Zanderau paced the Tritons and finished in a tie for sixth individually with a 54-hole score of 214, including a pair of 71s. She was named GLVC Player of the Week. Emmy Wall and Hillary Currier were UMSL’s next highest finishers, tying for 30th place with scores of 222. Dallas Baptist’s Ella Cheek was the individual medalist with a score of 205, and she helped her team post a winning score of 842, 22 shots better than runner-up Texas-Tyler. The Tritons return to the course on Sept. 30 at Findlay’s Beall Fall Invitational at the Findlay Country Club in Findlay, Ohio.
