Eutectics battle but come up short against Hannibal-LaGrange

HANNIBAL, MO – In a match that did not fit the offensive mold, the Hannibal-LaGrange Trojans downed the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy Eutectics in four sets, 25-21, 12-25, 25-22, 25-22. The Eutectics were on the wrong end of the final decision despite having fewer errors, a better hitting percentage, more service aces and as many blocks as the Trojans.

The opening set featured a dozen ties and seven lead changes. The Eutectics matched their largest lead in the set of three at 14-11 following a pair of HLGU hitting errors. Later in the set, a kill from Hannah Kynaston tied the match at 19-all and another miscue from the home club put UHSP up one at 20-19. The Trojans wound up claiming the set taking six of the final seven points with four of them coming on UHSP errors.

The Eutectics sprinted to a 9-3 lead in the second thanks in part to three service aces, two from Macy Hendrix. Hannibal-LaGrange got right back in the set scoring five straight to make it 9-8. The Purple and Gold responded with a 6-1 run of their own including a pair of kills from Kynaston. After the Trojans cut the gap to 16-12, Amber Loo got behind the serve line and rattled off the final seven points in a row to close out the set in convincing fashion. Tera Schumacher had five kills in those final eight points, set up twice by both Hendrix and Jenna Brinson.

The third and fourth sets followed more along the lines of what the first set offered. The third was tied four times before the visitors took their first lead at 12-11 on a Loo ace. It was tied three more times before HLGU had a 24-21 lead. Schumacher put one down to make it 24-22, but an Ariana Huitron kill claimed the set for Hannibal-LaGrange and a 2-1 lead heading to the fourth. Better than midway through the fourth, another Kynaston kill forged the set's seventh tie at 18-18 with an HLGU error giving UHSP a 19-18 lead. But the Trojans found a way to seal the win with four kills, two UHSP errors and an ace in scoring seven of the final ten points.

Tera Schumacher was the lone Eutectic with double-digit kills with ten while HLGU's Ryann Blankenship led all attackers with 12 kills. Macy Hendrix paced the defense with 17 digs and Jenna Brinson had 20 assists, four aces and six digs. Hannah Duggan added 11 digs. UHSP finished with a hitting percentage of .147 while the Trojans attacked to the tune of a .121 percentage. The Eutectics racked up 16 service aces led by five from Amber Loo.

The Trojans have now beaten the Eutectics in the last four straight and have taken 15 of the last 19 meetings. UHSP (3-19, 0-4 AMC) returns to their home court for their next match on Saturday in a non-conference affair against the Peru State Bobcats (7-12) at 12:00pm.