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LINCOLN, Neb. - It took extra points but the University of Dayton volleyball team wrapped up the Nebraska Ameritas Players Challenge with a 3-2 (20-25, 26-24, 15-25, 26-24, 18-16) win over Saint Mary's (Calif.) Saturday evening at UN's Devaney Center. Sophomore Alaina Turner shined in the weekend finalé with a career-high 19 kills to go with 13 digs for her third career double-double.

Also for the Flyers, sophomore Jenna Jendryk narrowly missed the elusive triple-double with a career-high 48 assists, 12 digs and a career-high nine blocks. Senior Megan Campbell also had nine blocks to go with her 13 kills while senior Shayne Brown was the third Flyer with double-digit kills at 11. Senior Allyson Morey passed 12 digs and junior Rachel Jones got under a career-high 11 digs. Sophomore Janna Krafa was also in double-digit digs with a match-high 29 and sophomore Angel Agu tallied a career-high 10 blocks.

Dayton (4-5) posted a program-record 22.5 blocks for the match on the strength of a program-best 41 assisted blocks. Saint Mary's (4-3) posted 67 kills to UD's 58 and served up eight aces to Dayton's seven.

Facing a 10-9 deficit in the first set, Dayton scored four straight points, a run capped by a kill from Turner, to claim the 13-10 advantage. The Flyers would hold a three-point advantage three more times, with the last being at 20-17. The Gaels rallied with an 8-0 run to close the first frame and take the 25-20 set-one win.

Turner scored the Flyers' first three points of the second half on the way to a 5-2 UD lead over SMC. The Gaels rallied for a 5-1 run to take over the lead at 7-6 and the two squads traded points through a 9-9 tie. Saint Mary's was able to go ahead by three points a few times throughout the set and held its largest advantage at 19-15.

Dayton rattled off five-straight points and the set-advantage was back in favor of the Flyers, 20-19. SMC held set-point at 24-23 but a double block from Agu and sophomore Jill Loiars earned sideout for UD. A kill from Brown set up a Flyer set-point and Jendryk scored the set-winner, serving up the ace for the 26-24 UD win in game two.

The Gaels started hot in the third set, breaking open a 10-3 lead. A SMC service error gave UD sideout and Brown earned a solo block on the next play. Dayton cut the lead back to five again, 13-8, but Saint Mary's kicked it into full gear, spreading its lead to 10, 21-11. Ten would be the final margin as SMC picked up the 25-15 third-set win.

Holding a one-point lead, 6-5, in the fourth set, the Gaels scored three straight to hold a 9-5 advantage. The Flyers battled back and knotted the frame at 11 apiece but the Gaels again rallied to go up 16-12. A kill from Campbell kicked started a 4-0 UD run, pulling the Flyers ahead, 19-17 and the advantage was two again at 22-20 after a kill from Agu.

Turner picked up her 14th kill of the match at 23-21 and then gave the Flyers set-point at 24-22 with another executed attack. The Gaels forced extra points after tying the set at 24 but Jendryk set up set-point again at 25-24. Turner tied the match at two sets each for the Flyers after serving up an ace to with the fourth game, 26-24.

Saint Mary's scored the first three points of the final set and was able to jump out, 4-1, on Dayton. The Gael lead was three, 8-5, after a SMC attack error but stretched to five, 10-5, when the Flyers erred. A UD triple block pulled the Flyers to within three, 11-8, but the Gaels were able to reach match-point first, 14-11.

But three straight UD points evened the score at 14-all. A strong swing by Brown turned the tables, setting up Dayton for match-point at 16-15. The Gaels would not go down without a fight but Turner sealed the deal when her kill awarded the Flyers the 18-16 fifth-set win and the 3-2 match victory.

The Gaels were led by Jordan Shaw with 16 kills and 18 digs. Three other SMC players recorded double-doubles for the match, including Dalas Dodd with a match-high 58 assists to go with 11 digs.

The Flyers return to action next weekend as they play host to the Dayton Invitational Sept. 20-22. UD will kick off the weekend on Friday against Western Kentucky at 7 p.m.

Ameritas Players Challenge All-Tournament Team
Amber Rolfzen, Nebraska- MVP
Kelsey Robinson- Nebraska
Mary Pollmiller-Nebraska
Kristen Hahn- Iowa State
Janna Krafka- Dayton
Sarah Reams- Saint Mary's