Eutectics Drop Two at Indiana Tri-Match

ST. MARY OF THE WOODS, IND. – The Eutectic women's volleyball team travelled to Indiana on Wednesday night for a tri-match at St. Mary of the Woods College with Franklin College (Ind.).

The night started with a 4 p.m. match against the NCAA Division III Franklin College Grizzlies (8-12), where the Grizzlies won in four sets. The Eutectics started off strong in the first set, posting an attacking percentage of .316 while the Grizzlies struggled at .115. With the score tied at 12, the Eutectics rattled off six points in a row to take a sizable lead and hold it, winning 25-17.  The momentum carried over for UHSP into the start of the second set. With the Purple and Gold up 21-19, a Franklin timeout sparked a five-point scoring run by the Grizzlies to get to set point. The Indiana team then edged out the Euts for the second set at 25-23.

The Grizzlies rode the wave of momentum well into the third set, winning the first 11 points in a row before the Euts were able to break up the run with a kill by Hannah Kynaston (set by Jenna Brinson). The Grizzlies' offense would not be stopped, however, recording a .500 attacking percentage to win the set quickly at 25-9 and go up two sets to one. Franklin maintained the momentum into the fourth set, going up 10-4 after four aces in a row by Hope Moring. The Eutectics were unable to string together more than one or two points in a row against the Franklin defense, eventually dropping the set 25-12 securing the match win for the Grizzlies, 3-1.

Sophia Michaud led the Euts on offense, notching 11 kills on 23 attempts. Jenna Brinson put up 21 assists. Brinson, Amber Loo, and Macy Hendrix recorded two aces apiece.

After the tough loss to Franklin, the Eutectics had to turn right around to face the heavily favored SMWC Pomeroys (21-3). The host team were able to repeat its sweep over UHSP from the Eutectics' first home match of the season with another straight-set victory in Indiana, winning 25-14, 25-6, 25-14.

The Euts fell behind early in the first set, but blocks from Sophia Michaud, Sumanpreet Kaur, and Kynaston, along with several kills by Angelica Daginis were highlights for the Purple and Gold before the Pomeroys claimed the set at 25-14. The Euts scored the first two points of the second set off a Daginis kill (from Brinson) and a Pomeroy error, but then struggled as the set continued, unable to get their offense going and falling25-6. For the third set, it seemed the UHSP had regrouped, keeping the score close with kills from Michaud and Kaur forcing several tie scores in the early points. Down 14-9, an SMWC service error put Brinson on the service line, who ticked off two aces and a Pomeroy attacking error to score four points and get the Eutectics within one at 14-13. But, a home-team kill regained the serve for the leaders, who then rattled off eight points in a row, including four aces from Audrey Lee to knock to wind out of the Eutectic sails. A kill from Michaud broke up the SMWC scoring, but they finished the set by winning the last three points off a kill and two more aces at 25-14.  

Michaud finished the match with six kills. Brinson had 12 assists and two aces, and Macy Hendrix recorded eight digs.

The Eutectics, now 3-22, will be back on their home court for another non-conference matchup Thursday night (Oct. 10). The Fontbonne University Griffins (7-5) will make the 10-minute drive to the UHSP gymnasium from their campus on the other side of Forest Park for a 7 p.m. start.