Volleyball Stays Perfect on Final Day of the Vipers Sports Academy Classic – Keiser University Athletics

The Keiser volleyball team remained unbeaten on the season with two victories on the final day of the Vipers Sports Academy Classic on Saturday. The Seahawks moved to 5-0 on the year with victories over Spartanburg Methodist (25-9, 25-20, 25-14) and Olivet Nazarene (25-23, 21-25, 25-8, 25-18). 

On the day, Keiser hit .299 with 95 total kills (13.57 per set) while holding the opposition to a .094 hitting percentage. The Seahawks had six players registered nine-or-more kills on the day, including Mackenzie Pryor, who totaled 31 kills (4.43 per set) on a .296 hitting percentage. Middle blocker Isabella Steffel hit a team-best .414 (minimum 20 total attacks) with 14 kills and four total blocks. Freshman Katelyn Baxley had a solid day with 13 kills on a .360 hitting percentage. The first-year Seahawk led the team with nine total blocks. Libero Faith Marquis averaged 5.00 digs per set on Saturday, producing 35 total while setter Hannah Heide added 65 assists on Saturday as the Jupiter, Florida, native ended the weekend with 183 (10.76 per set).

 

The Vipers Sports Academy Classic 

presented by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission 

August 15-17, 2024

Day Three Results

Saturday, August 17

Keiser 3, Spartanburg Methodist 0

Keiser 3, Olivet Nazarene 1

 

Match Score: Keiser Seahawks 3, Spartanburg Methodist Pioneers 0

Set Scores: (25-9, 25-20, 25-14)

Location: Student Life Center (West Palm Beach, Fla.)

Records: Keiser Seahawks (4-0), Spartanburg Methodist Pioneers (0-4)

 

SET 1 (KU, 25-9)

• The Seahawks rattled off nine straight points to start the set, 9-0.
• After two straight points by the Pioneers, Mackenzie Pryor gave the Seahawks a 10-2 edge with a kill.
• Another kill by Pryor pushed the Seahawk lead to 10, 13-3.
• A kill by Frederica Silva sparked a 5-0 run to make the score 18-4.
• Back-to-back kills by Emma Friese and Katelyn Baxley closed out the set, 25-9.
• Keiser recorded a .684 attack percentage, committing no hitting errors in the set. 

SET 2 (KU, 25-20)

• The Pioneers jumped out to a 4-1 lead following a kill by Brantlie Price.
• The Seahawks tied the set 4-4, following an attack error by Makinnley Smart.
• With the Seahawks trailing 10-9, a kill by Hannah Heide tied the set at 10-all.
• Baxley’s offense highlighted a three-point swing as KU led, 14-12.
• With the score tied 16-16, Keiser used a 9-4 run to close out the set, 25-20.

SET 3 (KU, 25-14)

• Heide (two kills) and Pryor (one kill) gave Keiser an early 3-1 lead.
• Isabella Steffel kicked off a 5-0 run with a kill as the Seahawks led, 12-5.
• Hannah Mary Herrick extended the Seahawks lead, 18-10, with back-to-back kills.
• A service ace by Faith Marquis capped off three straight points for the Seahawks as Keiser led, 23-13.
• After a kill by Baxley and an attack error by SMC’s Rebekah Martin, KU won the set and the match, 25-14).

Match Score: Keiser Seahawks 3, Olivet Nazarene 1
Set Scores: (25-23, 21-25, 25-8, 25-18)
Location: Student Life Center (West Palm Beach, Fla.)
Records: Keiser Seahawks (5-0), Olivet Nazarene (1-3)
 

SET 1 (KU, 25-23)

• After a Pryor kill, ONU scored four straight to take a 4-1 lead.
• Kaitlyn Kolb extended the lead for the Tigers with a kill, 7-2.
• KU battled back to cut the deficit, 7-6, following block assists by Pryor and Baxley.
• A kill by Silva tied the match at 9-9.
• ONU regained the lead and held it until Silva tied the set with a kill, 18-18.
• Halle Nicholas gave the Tigers a 23-22 edge, but Keiser notched three straight including the set-winner – a kill by Pryor.

SET 2 (ONU, 25-21)

• The Tigers opened the set with a 3-1 lead following a block assists by Kaitlyn Kolb and Ella Johnson.
• The Seahawks tied the set, 6-6, on a solo block by Heide.
• Keiser took the lead, extending their advantage to 9-6 following an attack error by Addison Schmidt.
• ONU scored three straight to take a 13-10 lead.
• The Seahawks battled back again, tying the set at 18-18 following a kill by Pryor.
• The Tigers used a 7-3 run to take Set Two, 25-21. 

SET 3 (KU, 25-8)

• The Seahawks came out of the gates quickly in the third set, taking a 9-3 lead following a kill by Pryor.
• A kill by ONU’s Kelsey Todd cut the Keiser lead to 11-4 but the Seahawks used a 12-2 run to pull away 23-6.
• Pryor gave the Seahawks a 2-1 lead in the match with a kill to win the set, 25-8.

SET 4 (KU, 25-18)

• After an early 3-1 Keiser lead, ONU used an 8-1 run to hold a 9-4 advantage following a block assist by Halle Nicholas and Ella Johnson.
• The Tigers added to their lead, 12-6, following a kill by Johnson.
• KU chipped away at the ONU lead pulling within two, 17-15. 
• A kill by Silva followed by an attack error by the Tiger’s Nicholas, tied the set, 17-17.
• ONU regained the lead with a kill by Nicholas, 18-17.
• The Seahawks used an 8-0 run, highlighted with kills by Steffel (2), Heide (2), and Silva (1) to take the set and the match.

• The Seahawks finished the day hitting .299 with 95 total kills (13.57 per set)
• Defensively, Keiser held the opposition to a .094 hitting percentage on the day
• The Seahawks ended the day with 107 total digs (15.29 per set) and 92 total assists (13.14 per set)
• Outside hitter Mackenzie Pryor led all Seahawks with 31 kills in seven sets (4.43 per set)
• Middle blocker Isabella Steffel hit a team-best .414 (minimum 20 total attacks) with 14 kills and four total blocks
• Libero Faith Marquis averaged 5.00 digs per set on Saturday, producing 35 total
• Setter Hannah Heide added 65 assists on Saturday as the Jupiter, Florida, native ended the weekend with 183 (10.76 per set)
• Heide increased her career total to 4,362
• Freshman Katelyn Baxley led the team with nine total blocks on Saturday
• The native of Jacksonville, Florida, hit .360 with 13 total kills

• Keiser moves to 5-0 on the year with Saturday’s wins
• With the two victories, Head Coach James Rogers improves to 167-69 all-time
• Saturday featured two first-time opponents for the Seahawks
• With the pair of victories on Saturday, Keiser is 3-0 versus first-time opponents this season (including 3-0 win over Saint Francis on Thursday)
• Keiser finished the weekend, hitting .311 overall
• The Seahawks hit a season-high .412 versus Spartanburg Methodist
• The 65 total team digs versus Olivet Nazarene were a season high for the Seahawks
• In the five games played this weekend, Keiser produced seven-or-more service aces in four of those matches  
• This marks the second time in three years and third time in five that Keiser has started the year 5-0
• Three Seahawks made their collegiate debuts during Keiser’s 3-0 win over Spartanburg Methodist (Payton Eckert, Ashley Strefling, and Alyssa Portillo)

The Seahawks will host Oregon Tech and Benedictine Mesa on Monday, August 19. Keiser will take on Oregon Tech at 10:00 AM followed by a 2:00 PM match versus Benedictine Mesa.

 

Get the latest information on the team by following @kuseahawks_vb on Instagram and @keiservb on X.

 

General athletic news can be found at KUSeahawks on Facebook, @kuseahawks on Instagram, and @kuseahawks on X.