(OMAHA, Nebraska)- Following last night’s match against Denver, Omaha Volleyball has now played 21 times this season. Of those 21 matches, ten have gone to five sets. The Mavericks are just 2-8 in those five-set matches.
Unfortunately, that elusive fifth set has become the story for Omaha early on in Summit League play, as they sit at 10-11 overall and 3-4 in conference play.
The Mavs have indeed been competitive in every match, as all four losses in Summit League play have finished in five sets, but now, for Omaha to turn the corner, they need to start closing out those close contests.
Looking back on league play so far, Omaha got off on the right foot, defeating both North Dakota and North Dakota State in four sets in the first weekend of Summit action. The Mavs then proceeded to hit the road, first down south at Oral Roberts. The two squads traded sets the entire way, before the Golden Eagles ultimately took the fifth set, handing Omaha their first loss in league play. Junior Anna Blaschko led the way for Omaha with 19 kills.
After that tough mid-week loss, Omaha headed north to take on South Dakota. The defending-tournament champion Coyotes have still only lost one match all-season and are still perfect in Summit play. Regardless, Omaha pushed South Dakota to the brink. After losing the first two sets, Omaha rallied to take sets three and four but dropped set five, falling short of the comeback. Isabella Sade finished with 18 kills, while Claire Mountjoy recorded 28 digs.
Now on a two-game losing streak, Omaha needed a momentum shift. They got it against Western Illinois. Wrapping up a three-game road trip, Omaha swept the Leathernecks in straight sets behind a balanced team performance. Sadie Limback tallied 14 kills, while freshman Sami Clarkson continued her strong campaign at the setter spot with 38 assists. The win marked Omaha’s first true road victory of the season.
Following all that travel, Omaha was ready to come back to Baxter and play in front of a home crowd. While Omaha did kick off a three-match homestand Sunday, they would certainly be tested in those three contests.
Sunday’s tilt welcomed Purdue Fort Wayne, the number two team in the Summit. Considering Omaha had just played in Illinois two days earlier, the Mavs may have been reeling just a tad from all that travel and the Mastodons took advantage. Purdue Fort Wayne took the first two sets, fending off late comebacks from Omaha in both sets. Despite trailing 2-0 early, Omaha did not rollover. Showing shades of their comeback against South Dakota, Omaha rattled off long runs to dominate sets three and four, taking momentum into the fifth set. However, the fifth set once again tripped up the Mavs as Purdue Fort Wayne regained their composure and closed at Omaha in an emotional fifth set. Sade played phenomenally, tallying 22 kills. Clarkson was also an efficient passer, with a whopping 58 assists.
Despite the tough loss, Omaha did not have much time to dwell on it, as they’d be back in action right away on Tuesday night. The Mavericks welcomed in Denver, a perennial powerhouse in the Summit. While the Pioneers, have not been as imposing as year’s past, they’re still regarded as one of the top tier teams in the league. Neither team broke, as they exchanged sets back and forth, once again leading up to a decisive fifth set. Omaha did win the coin flip, getting serve first, but Denver went on a big run midway through the set, pulling away from Omaha and taking the set and match.
The perseverance displayed by Omaha in that match may have been the most they’ve shown all year. Sophomore Rylee Marshall sat out the match, as she stayed on the bench with a boot on her right foot. Coach Buttermore called upon some young players to fill the void, asking sophomore Alexa Blase and freshman Rachel Faribanks to play a larger than usual role. Both played very well considering the circumstances, with Fairbanks notching 13 kills and Blase adding 10 of her own. Sade led the way with 16 kills. Omaha’s back row also played well, totaling 68 digs, with Mountjoy leading the way with 16. In the end, it wasn’t enough, but considering Omaha was missing a key player in Marshall, the effort was indeed valiant.
Looking ahead, Omaha is next in action Monday night as they close out their three-game homestand against South Dakota State. That match can once again be heard on MavRadio.fm with coverage beginning at 7 p.m.
