Underclassmen Key Victory Filled with Career Highs, Impressive Streaks

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – A trio of Taylor volleyball underclassmen set career highs Wednesday evening to help the Trojans get past Spring Arbor (11-12, 5-9 CL) in an impressive four-set road victory (25-18, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22).

An all-around team effort led to the Trojans hitting benchmarks of eight service aces and 10 blocks for just the third and sixth times this season, respectively.

A balanced offensive attack also saw TU reach 50-plus kills for the fourth consecutive match, its longest such streak of the season.

Not to be outdone, Taylor's defensive specialists extended their streak to four straight contests with 75-plus digs, the longest such stretch in the program since a six-match streak spanned the final three contests of the 2017 season through the first three contests of 2018.

On the individual side of things, sophomore Abi Powers recorded a career-high six aces to lead TU, while freshmen Daya Vestal (10 kills) and Shaye Watson (nine kills) notched career highs in the hitting department.

Onto the action, both teams took a while to get settled in, though it was Spring Arbor that jumped out to an early four-point lead. Jaylynn Dunsmore then helped the Trojans pick up steam, and Reagan Kleiman dominated the back half of the opening set to hand TU a 1-0 advantage in the match.

Grace Ieremia and Lindsay Springer teamed up for a pair of blocks late in a back-and-forth second set, but SAU closed on a 4-1 run to even the match and spoil strong offensive sets by Vestal and Gracie Conway.

Set number three looked as if it would go down to the wire before Watson and Ieremia powered an 11-1 run midway through the frame that gave Taylor the upper hand.

Already with three aces on the match headed into the fourth frame, Powers served up three more aces in a span of six rallies as the Trojans raced to a 14-5 lead. The Cougars roared back late in the set, but Watson fittingly ended the match with a powerful swing and kill to close with a match-high .600 attack percentage (minimum two attacks).

Conway led TU with 11 kills, though she was joined by Ieremia, Kleiman, Vestal and Watson as Trojans with at least eight kills on the night. 44 of Taylor's 49 assists were credited to Lindsay Springer.

McKaylah Flagle made it three consecutive matches of 25-plus digs as the junior dug out a match-high 26 opposition attacks. Lindsay Springer, Powers, Jen Springer and Chloe Holtz also reached double-digits in digs.

Taylor (10-16, 5-9 CL) looks for its third straight win when it hosts No. 25 Marian (18-6, 9-5) for Senior Day on Saturday at 4 p.m. inside Odle Arena.