AVE MARIA, Fla. – Keiser volleyball started strong but could not sustain the momentum, dropping a 3–1 decision (25-14, 17-25, 13-25, 19-25) to Ave Maria on Wednesday night at Tom Golisano Field House. The setback moves the Seahawks to 6-8 overall and 2-4 in Sun Conference play.
The opening set belonged entirely to the Seahawks. Behind sharp passing and balanced offense, Keiser stormed out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back. The combination of Cece Worsham, Makenzi Bennett, and Isabella Steffel provided early sparks at the net, while Mallory Dills spread the ball efficiently to keep the Gyrenes off balance. The Seahawks hit .333 in the frame and cruised to a convincing 25-14 win.
Ave Maria regrouped quickly, however, and used service pressure to turn the match around. The Gyrenes capitalized on Keiser miscues in the second set and built a steady lead on their way to a 25-17 win. The third set saw more of the same, as Ave Maria controlled the tempo with timely kills and four service aces to grab a 25-13 victory.
The fourth set was tightly contested, featuring five ties and multiple lead changes, but a late Ave Maria surge proved too much as the Seahawks fell 25-19.
Bennett paced the Seahawks with 12 kills and added 12 digs for a double-double. Steffel was a force on both ends, posting 10 kills on a .750 hitting percentage while contributing three blocks. Hannah Mary Herrick joined the duo in double figures with 10 kills.
Dills directed the offense with 39 assists and chipped in 10 digs, marking another double-double for the sophomore. In the back row, libero Faith Marquis recorded 24 digs.
Keiser held a narrow 77–73 advantage in digs, but Ave Maria's eight service aces and .252 hitting percentage proved to be the difference.
The Seahawks will return to action on Saturday, September 27, travelling to Temple Terrace, Fla., for a 3:00 p.m. matchup against Florida College.
- Keiser falls to 6-8 overall and 2-4 in Sun Conference play
- The Seahawks are now 8-5 all-time against Ave Maria
- Faith Marquis posted a season-high 24 digs, the most by a Seahawk this season
- Makenzi Bennett recorded a double-double (12 kills, 12 digs)
- Isabella Steffel finished with double-digit kills for the third time this year
- Mallory Dills notched her third double-double (39 assists, 10 digs)
- In set three, Paryss Betts replaced Faith Marquis as the libero
- Keiser committed 22 attack errors and five service errors, compared to Ave Maria's 14 attack errors and eight service errors
- Keiser out-dug Ave Maria, 77–73
- The Seahawks hit .333 in the opening set, their best percentage of the night, before being held below .200 in the remaining three frames.
The Seahawks will return to action on Saturday, September 27, travelling to Temple Terrace, Fla., for a 3:00 p.m. matchup against Florida College.
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