Seward Extends Sweep Streak to Six

CONCORDIA, Kan. – The No. 11 Lady Saints swept their six team in a row, and extended their winning streak to 11 to start the season in Monday night’s victory over Cloud County, defeating the Thunderbirds 25-13, 25-18, 25-15. The eleven wins to start the season now surpasses the 2008 mark to start the season.

Viviane Viana started set one on a mission. Through the first seven points scored for the Lady Saints (11-0, 3-0), Viana scored five. Four kills and a block accounted for the five points. Leading 7-4, the Lady Saints scored nine of the next thirteen points to take a 16-8 lead midway through the set. Giovanna Tapigliani started a new run with a kill of her own, leading the Lady Saints to a victory in set one, 25-13.

While Viana started set one one a mission, set two belonged to Luz Sierra. Through the first seven points, Sierra recorded six of them, with three coming from blocks, giving the Seward a 7-2 lead. The Thunderbirds kept the Lady Saints from extending their lead any further, until the final three points of the set. A kill by Sierra and Briana Domino, along with a Thunderbird service error, gave Seward the victory in set two, 25-18.

For the third set in a row, a single Lady Saint helped carry Seward to a large early set lead. This time, it was Giovanna Kuntze’s turn. While taking a 7-0 lead to start the third, Kuntze was responsible for three of the Lady Saints points, all through service aces. The Lady Saints spent the remainder of the match slowing increasing their lead before Kuntze finished the set 25-15 and gave Seward the sweep.

The Lady Saints finished the game with an astounding .487 attack percentage, besting their season average by nearly .200. Seward hit .680 in the second set, recording 19 kills on 25 attempts with only 2 erros. Three Lady Saints hit over .500, Mariana Nascimento (.714), Tapigliani (.688) and Sierra (.545). A fourth, Viana (.462,) fell just short of .500. Kuntze paced the Lady Saints, recording 36 assists on the night.

Tapigliani and Sierra also wreaked havoc defensively, recording six blocks a piece. A team, Seward recorded 10 blocks. Tapigliani also led the Lady Saints with 8 digs.

The Lady Saints will have a day off before taking on Dodge City on Wednesday (Sep. 13) in the Greenhouse.

For more information on the Seward County volleyball team, visit SewardSaints.com.

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Ian Applegate