Fayette, Mo. - The Central Methodist Volleyball team picked up a pair of wins against teams receiving national attention to close their weekend home tournament Saturday inside Puckett Field House.
The Eagles made quick work of No. 18 Columbia College in straight sets by scores of 26-24, 25-21, and 25-12 in the morning matchup.
Central then bounced back from two sets down to defeat (RV) Bethel in five (18-25, 24-26, 25-22, 25-21, 15-10).
Agains the Cougars, junior Joana Milho produced one of the best performances of her career, racking up a career best 19 kills on 38 swings for a .395 hitting percentage. She also tallied seven digs in three sets.
Annabelle Maassen joined Milho in the double-digit kill club with 11. Additionally, the native of Jefferson City recorded seven digs and one assist.
The duo of Leticia Barea and Gimena Dezeo tallied four kills apiece, while both Kyndra Collier and Kelsie Walker recorded three.
Gabi Owczarek led the setters with 19 assists, followed by Giulia Gainelli with 15. Gainelli also produced a team-best five service aces.
Rita Campos led the defense with 26 digs while adding three assists and a service ace.
Central saved its best set for last, hitting .448 as a team with 15 kills and only two attack errors.
The Eagles second game of the day would have to be won in comeback fashion, as Central found themselves trailing (RV) Bethel 2-0 after the opening two sets of play.
Bethel opened third set with three consecutive points and led by as many as four in the early stages. Central settled down and eventually evened the score at 8-8.
CMU pulled ahead 23-17 and never looked back, taking set three 25-22.
The early stages of set four mirrored set three, as Bethel rattled off four straight points. The Threshers lead by as many as five through the first 14 points.
Central maintained their composure and worked the score back even at 12-12. Both sides exchanged points and the score remained deadlocked at 19-19. CMU would gain the upper hand, rattling off three consecutive points, highlighted by a block from Milho and Mia Trankler.
The run proved to be enough, as Central claimed set four 25-21 to send the match to a winner-take-all set five.
CMU led the deciding set from start to finish, hitting .409 with 11 kills and only two errors.
Milho matched her career high from the earlier match with 19 kills. She also added 14 digs to secure a double-double.
Maassen finished with 10 digs, eight kills, two assists, and a block and a half. Leticia Barea tallied seven kills while the trio of Trankler, Martina Gonzato, and Lauren Strange each finished with five.
Gainelli dished out 28 assists followed by Mariah Bostic-Jones who added 11.
Both Gainelli and Gonzato recorded two service aces, while Campos led the defense with 20 digs. Central's defensive presence was felt at every position, as four different Eagles reached double digit digs. Trankler led the defensive present at the net, finishing with three and a half blocks.
The Eagles will continue non-conference action at the OU Invitational hosted by Ottawa University Thursday, Sept. 12 in Ottawa, Kansas. Central will face (RV) Ottawa University at 4:00 p.m. followed by No. 6 Oklahoma Wesleyan at 6:00 p.m.
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