Euts Fall in Four Sets at Friends

WICHITA, KAN. – After a strong start, the Eutectic women's volleyball team fell 3-1 to the Friends University Falcons (5-1) on Friday night in the Falcons' Garvey Center. It was the first match of the Friends' Quad, which will continue Saturday as UHSP takes on Baker University (Kan.) and Arlington Baptist (Texas).

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

Friends def. UHSP: 20-25, 25-16, 25-23, 25-19

• The Eutectics came out of the gate strong, working together to never allow the Falcons to take a lead. The UHSP team tallied 16 kills on 37 attempts while holding the home team to eight kills on 33 attempts.
• In Set 2, the Falcons notched back-to-back blocks during a six-point scoring run to take a 9-4 lead. A kill from Sumanpreet Kaur and an aced from Joleigh Parker were part of a four-point run by the Eutectics to inch closer to the Falcons at 17-15. But, Friends knocked out the last six points in a row to tie the set score at 1-1.   
• FU's Natalie Castillo racked up three kills as part of the Falcon's 5-0 start to Set 3. Kills by Hannah Kynaston and Alani Hicks, along with an ace from MaKenzie Uribe brought the Euts within one point at 6-5 and an ace from Hicks tied the score at 9-9, sparking a momentum change in favor of the Eutectics. But, with a 22-21 lead, the Eutectics dropped four of the next five points to lose the set at 25-23.
• Led by multiple kills from Tera Schumacher, the UHSP team, again, took the lead in Set 4 at 16-13. But, the Falcons followed up with a six-point run, including two aces from Emma Sargeant, to take the lead. Two more kills by Schumacher (set up by Jenna Brinson) got the Euts to a tie at 19 apiece. But, the Falcons closed out the set with three kills and two aces to win the match.
• Hannah Kynaston (11), Sumanpreet Kaur (10), and Tera Schumacher (10) all reached double digits in kills in the match. Setter Jenna Brinson put up 41 assists, while libero MaKenzie Uribe picked up 17 digs. Friends' Natalie Castillo notched 16 kills.

UP NEXT:

After three matches so far this season, the Eutectics are still looking for their first win. On Saturday, they'll return to Garvey Center to take on Arlington Baptist (0-0) at 10am followed by Baker University (2-1) at 12pm.