BEREA, Ky. – The Maryville Scots (1-0, 0-0) started their season with an intense three-set sweep over Spalding (0-2, 0-0) on Friday evening, with scores of 25-21, 25-20, and 25-23.

Maryville's Ruby Walton and freshman Charli Grubbs led the match with nine kills apiece, followed by transfer Jasmine Gross with eight. Senior Dakota Vaiese shined in the assist category, posting 30, and Maddie Bouvier (11), Kyrah Bowles (10), and Katelyn Eldred (9) secured a majority of the Scots' digs. As a team, Maryville posted 39 kills, 46 digs, 33 assists, and nine service aces.

Addison Appleby opened set one with a service ace, but the Golden Eagles quickly responded with three points of their own. Both teams continued to battle, with neither team able to grab footing until two Spalding errors and a kill from Gross gave the Scots the lead, 17-14. A kill from Walton and Grubbs, alongside a Maryville service ace and Golden Eagle error, extended Maryville's lead to 21-14. Spalding retaliated with a four-point run of their own, but three service errors from Spalding, with a service ace from Eldred, earned Maryville the first set, 25-21.

Spalding opened set two with intensity, going on a quick 7-1 run before Maryville could respond. Walton, Gross, and Aubrey Gibson shined in Maryville's revenge, with Walton posting three service aces and the duo of Gross and Gibson tallying five kills, bringing Maryville ahead, 11-8. The Scots continued to creep ahead, with Appleby making another appearance with two aces in a row. Up 22-13, Spalding climbed their way back into the set, going on a six-point run to shrink Maryville's lead to three. With a Golden Eagles' service error, Gross was able to throw down two kills, closing set two, 25-20.

Set three opened with five Spalding attack errors, gifting Maryville a 6-1 lead early on. Similarly to set one, both teams were battling for the lead, but an attack by Walton sparked a rally, featuring kill contributions from Gross and a service ace from Bouvier. Leading 22-17, Spalding capitalized on multiple Scot errors, tying up the set, 22-22. Two kills from Appleby pulled the Scots ahead, and a final service error from Spalding handed Maryville set three, 25-23.

Maryville is back in action tomorrow, September 5, taking on Berea at 10:30 a.m. before facing Brevard at 1:00 p.m. to close out their time at the Mountaineer Invitational.