MARSHALL, Mo. — The Hesston College volleyball team split a pair of matches Tuesday at the Missouri Valley Triangular, sweeping Avila University before falling to host Missouri Valley College. The split moved the Larks to 9-8 on the season.

Hesston opened the triangular with a strong performance against Avila, earning a 25-13, 25-23, 25-21 sweep. The Larks hit .212 for the match while holding the Eagles to .084 and finished with an 11-7 advantage in service aces. 

The Larks controlled the opening set, hitting .256 with 12 kills and just one error in the 25-13 win. The second set proved much tighter, featuring 10 ties and six lead changes before Hesston pulled out the 25-23 victory. Hesston then turned in its most efficient offensive set of the match in the third, hitting .350 to complete the sweep, 25-21. 

Kennedie Esparza led the Hesston attack against Avila with eight kills and added five digs and two aces. Lydia Foster and Jaycee Ray each recorded six kills, with Foster hitting .417 and Ray .308. Trinity Griffin added three kills on a .429 hitting percentage. Delayna Kerry dished out 16 assists, while Rebekah Blackmer added 13. Sarahi Paez anchored the defense with 17 digs and two aces.

Hesston faced Missouri Valley in the second match of the night, falling 25-17, 25-23, 25-17. The Larks battled closest in the second set, which featured 17 ties and 10 lead changes before the Vikings came away with the two-point win. 

Esparza again led Hesston offensively with six kills, while Ray finished with five kills and a strong presence at the net with two solo blocks and three block assists. Foster and Griffin each added four kills, and Blackmer recorded three kills on a .400 hitting percentage. Paez led the back row with 13 digs. 

The Larks will return home for the Continental Athletic Conference Classic, opening tournament play Friday, Oct. 9 at 9 a.m. against Florida College.