Columbia downs Eutectics on Senior Night

(Photo courtesy of Makenzie Ness)

ST. LOUIS, MO – The final home match of the regular season for the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy featured a matchup against the Columbia Cougars who have been nationally ranked at various times throughout the season and entered the match receiving votes in the latest national poll. The Cougars improved to 11-0 all-time against UHSP with a three-set win on Thursday, 25-13, 25-XX, 25-XX. The victory extended Columbia win streak to six straight while UHSP has now dropped 13 in a row.

The opening set started fast for the visitors as they rattled off seven of the first eight points leading to a UHSP timeout. Columbia continued to transition well and while the Eutectics managed to succeed in committing blockers to the front, they were not able to control the block at the net with enough regularity. The Cougars converted seven of the ensuing ten points in their favor and led 14-4 en route to the set win. Each team totaled 34 total attacks. Columbia converted on a dozen with only four errors while the home club had eight errors to six kills.

Early in the second, a big double-block from Sierra Aplanalp and Hannah Kynaston put UHSP on top 2-1. A Cougar hitting error followed by a Sophia Michaud kill had the Eutectics on top 4-1. At 5-2, Columbia went on a 5-0 run to take a 7-5 lead, but the Purple and Gold showed some resilience and countered with their own string of five straight to reclaim a 10-7 advantage thanks to a Michaud kill and four Cougar errors. The middle of the set featured a lot of back-and-forth with most points being given thanks to errors, rather than earned due to kills. A massive kill by Agatha Emanuelle followed by an error and a Mariana De Carvalho spike off the block and Columbia had a 17-14 lead into a UHSP stoppage. The home club had a chance at 19-16, but Emanuelle took a free-ball and turned it into a kill followed by two service points by Alexa Olson including an ace and Columbia took the set to go up 2-0.

The third set opened with the Cougars claiming six of the first eight before another UHSP timeout. Michaud and senior Amber Loo had kills around a few Columbia errors as the Euts closed the gap to 8-6. Columbia did a good job of taking advantage of UHSP's inability to generate consistent offense and in return swung at every opportunity. At 11-8, the visitors embarked on a stretch of seven in a row to go ahead 18-8. It would prove too much for the Eutectics to overcome as Columbia won the match in straight sets.

Sophia Michaud led UHSP with seven kills while Jenna Brinson had 13 assists. The two UHSP seniors combined for 17 digs with Amber Loo recording nine and Macy Hendrix notching eight. Mariana De Carvalho paced Columbia with seven kills.

The Eutectics (3-27, 0-8 AMC) will wrap up the regular season with four straight on the road starting Friday when they visit fellow St. Louis resident, Fontbonne (12-6, 8-3 SLIAC) for a 7:00pm start. Then it will be three straight AMC contests to finish out the year as the Eutectics play at Williams Baptist, Crowley's Ridge and Harris-Stowe.