The Basics
Score: MNU 3 – St. Ambrose 0
Record: MNU (12-8, 8-5), St. Ambrose (7-17, 5-8)
Location: Olathe, Kan. - Cook Center
Set Scores: 25-20, 25-12, 25-18

OLATHE, Kan. – MNU delivered a convincing three-set victory over St. Ambrose on Friday evening, sweeping the Fighting Bees 25-20, 25-12, and 25-18.

MNU held St. Ambrose to a .067 hitting percentage while improving to 12-8 overall and 8-5 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play.

The opening set featured nine ties and several momentum swings. After falling behind 4-3, MNU scored five consecutive points during a service run by Malasy Sakounlaphoum. The stretch included two aces and a block by Talia Jost and Dominika Bartosz, giving the Pioneers an 8-4 advantage.

St. Ambrose rallied to take a 13-11 lead, but MNU answered with three consecutive points, including back-to-back aces from Callie Winebarger. The teams continued trading points until the Pioneers broke a 19-19 tie and scored six of the final seven points. A block by Pola Madziewicz and Kennedy Smalley, followed by a Mia Olson kill, helped secure the 25-20 victory.

MNU took control immediately in the second set, jumping ahead 6-2 behind kills from Smalley, Olson, and Laura Carbonell. The Pioneers extended the lead to 13-8 before Winebarger delivered a decisive service run.

Winebarger recorded three consecutive aces as MNU scored six straight points to build an 18-8 advantage. Carbonell contributed two kills during the stretch, and the Pioneers continued pulling away. MNU hit .378 with 18 kills in the set, closing out a dominant 25-12 win on a kill by Jost.

The third set was more competitive early, with St. Ambrose tying the score at 7-7, 9-9, and 11-11. MNU responded to the final tie with four consecutive points, including an Olson kill and another Winebarger ace, to take a 15-11 lead.

The Fighting Bees cut the deficit to 16-14, but MNU maintained control. A Carbonell kill sparked another push, and a block by Jost and Smalley helped extend the lead to 21-15. The Pioneers finished the match with three consecutive points, capped by kills from Bartosz and Olson, to complete the sweep.

Carbonell led MNU with 10 kills and a .364 hitting percentage, while Olson added 9 kills and hit .353. Smalley contributed 7 kills and three blocks.

Winebarger was a major factor at the service line, finishing with six aces, 16 assists, and seven digs. Sakounlaphoum added four aces, accounting for the remainder of MNU's 10 service aces.

Jost anchored the defense at the net with five blocks, including one solo block, while Emily Mathis led the back row with 22 digs. Anna DeGraffenreid contributed 14 assists and seven digs.

Turning Point
Leading 13-8 in the second set, MNU scored five consecutive points behind Callie Winebarger's serve, including three straight aces, to extend the advantage to 18-8. The Pioneers never allowed St. Ambrose back into the set and carried that momentum into the third.

Individual Leaders
Laura Carbonell: 10 kills, .364 hitting percentage
Mia Olson: 9 kills, .353 hitting percentage, 1 block
Kennedy Smalley: 7 kills, 3 blocks
Callie Winebarger: 16 assists, 7 digs, 6 aces
Malasy Sakounlaphoum: 4 aces
Emily Mathis: 22 digs, 4 assists
Anna DeGraffenreid: 14 assists, 7 digs
Dominika Bartosz: 5 kills, 12 digs

Up Next
The next match is Saturday at home vs. Culver-Stockton at 2:00.