BUENA VISTA, Va.—The Marymount (Va.) University women's volleyball team defeated Capital Athletic Conference opponent Southern Virginia University in four sets on Wednesday evening, 3-1 (25-21, 25-14, 21-25, 25-21). Junior Emileigh Rettig followed up with another great performance grabbing a match-high of 18 kills. 

The Saints struck first off a kill by senior Morgan McAlpin to take the early 1-0 lead in set one. The Knights however quickly answered and eventually took an 8-3 lead. A kill by junior Cailyn Thomas would set the Saints up for a 3-0 run to get within two of the Knights. Both teams continued trading points until Marymount tied the game at 16. A kill by junior Mallory Mitchell would give the Saints the lead followed by back-to-back kills from Morgan to extend the lead to 21-18, a lead that wasn't surrendered to a 25-21 victory.

Set two was a battle from the beginning after the teams tied four times before the Saints would go on a 3-0 run to reach a 9-6 lead. Later in the set, two service aces from sophomore Christine Tieman combined with a kill from junior Hannah Steger put Marymount on a 5-0 run. The Saints continued to build their lead until a kill from Mitchell gave the Saints a nine-point lead, the biggest in the set. The game ended 25-14 on a kill by Morgan. 

Rettig struck first to give the Saints a 1-0 lead that would eventually extend to 3-1 to open the third set. However, the Knights battled back and tied it 3-3 before taking their first lead. Both teams battled back and forth reaching several ties and lead changes until the Knights grabbed the final lead at 14-13. Southern Virginia went on a 5-0 run forcing Marymount to take a timeout. Freshman Caroline Hanson and Rettig came out of the timeout each adding a kill for the Saints to get back within one of the Knights, but unfortunately it was not enough to take the set, as Southern Virginia stole its lone set of the match, 25-21. 

Marymount would again take the early 1-0 lead, but a majority of the fourth set swayed back and forth with several ties and lead changes. After trailing 13-17 late in the set, the Saints picked it up on the offensive end to finish out the match. A kill from Mitchell and Thomas would extend the lead for the Saints to 21-17 forcing a timeout from the Knights. Sophomore Margaret McAlpin capped of the set and match with a kill. 

Rettig led the offense with a match-high of 18 kills followed by Thomas with 10. Tieman put up a match-high of 24 assists followed by Hanson with 20. Hanson also added 14 digs on the defensive end, while Thomas was a wall at the net assisting in seven blocks and earning one on her own. 

Claire Houghtaling led the Knights offense with seven kills, while Delaney Layton led the team with 16 assists. Hannah Phillips had a match-high 18 digs to pace the Knights' defense. 

The women will continue Capital Athletic Conference play on the road at the University of Mary Washington on Saturday, October 24 in Fredericksburg, Virginia as part of a tri-match setup with Lynchburg College. The day will open up at 1 p.m., for the Saints against the Eagles, followed up with the Hornets at 3 p.m.