ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Washington University in St. Louis volleyball team wrapped up play as host of the Bear Invite, Saturday, September 2, with a pair of matches against Hendrix College and No. 6 Hope College. The Bears welcomed a sweep of Hendrix (27-25, 25-14, 25-20) to begin the day, then fell to No. 6 Hope in four sets (14-25, 20-25, 31-29, 24-26). After today's action, the Bears' record sits at 3-1. 

In the first match of the day against the Warriors of Hendrix College, WashU manufactured the statistical advantage in kills (48-36), assists (45-34), and digs (58-50). 

On the offensive side of the ball, junior Jasmine Sells produced a match-high 15 kills. First-year Leah Oyewole notched double-digit kills (10), while sophomore Zoe Foster added nine. 

Sophomore Sam Buckley dished out a match-high 38 assists. 

Defensively, junior Elise Gilroy hauled in a match-high 19 digs. First-year Ellie Laird registered 13 digs, while Buckley notched nine. 

In the opening frame, WashU found itself trailing 18-11 after the Warriors went on a five-point run. However, the Bears registered a three-point run later in the set to cut the deficit to 20-19. With Hendrix having two set points, with the score standing at 24-21, WashU was able to earn the next four points on two Hendrix attack errors, a Foster kill, and a Gilroy ace to erase the deficit and to take the 25-24 lead. In the end, Foster was able to end the set with a timely kill as WashU stole the first set, 27-25. 

The Bears were able to carry the momentum into the second set by grabbing the first three points on two Hendrix attack errors and an Oyewole kill. With WashU owning the 10-7 lead, the Bears produced a nine-point run to race out to a comfortable 19-7 lead. With the score sitting at 24-14, in favor of the home team, senior Lily Steinbach recorded the set-ending kill as the Bears won the second set, 25-14. 

In the third, WashU owned the slim, 17-16 advantage. Much like the second set, the Bears went on another timely, six-point run to generate the 23-16 lead. In the run, Sells recorded a trio of kills. With WashU at match point, a Hendrix attack error ended the match by a final set score of 25-20. 

In the nightcap against No. 6 Hope, WashU dropped its first match of the year, in four sets. The Flying Dutch saw advantages in aces (7-3), blocks (7-4), assists (58-57), and digs (88-83).  

Sells paced WashU with her team-high 19 kills. Foster notched 11 kills, while first-year McKenzie Washington added nine. 

Buckley earned another double-double as the sophomore exploded for 40 assists and 15 digs. 

Senior Alden Standley manufactured 17 digs, with Gilroy snatching 16 of her own. 

Hope utilized a quick start as the Flying Dutch held the 9-2 cushion in the opening set. WashU could not bounce back from the early deficit as Hope secured the first set, 25-14. 

In the second, WashU assembled a seven-point run to grab the 14-9 advantage. However, Hope charged right back with a six-point run to earn the slim, 15-14, lead. The Bears battled back, securing a 20-19 cushion on a Hope attack error. In the end, Hope put together a six-point run to win the second set, 25-20. 

The third set saw back-and-forth play with Hope owning the 23-22 lead late in the set. Both programs fended off several set and match points as the score stood at 29-29. With fans on the edge of their seats, Sells buried a kill and first-year Eva Boling and Washington teamed up for a rejection to give WashU the dramatic, 31-29, set three victory. 

With WashU looking to extend the match to a fifth and decisive set, Hope recorded the final two points on back-to-back kills to end the match as the fourth set ended by the score of 26-24. 

The Bears will next travel west, to Claremont, Calif. to compete in the highly-anticipated East to West Battle, September 8-9. WashU will take on Johns Hopkins and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Friday, before wrapping up the tournament against California Lutheran on Saturday.