Bears Battle Kirkwood with Serving and Defense Ursuline faced a much taller Kirkwood team last night, but the Bears refused to let the height difference determine the match. Ursuline relied on aggressive serving, strong defense, and a balanced offensive attack throughout four competitive sets. The Bears recorded 18 service aces. Paige Mitchell and Reese Adamec led the pressure from the service line with five aces each. Noelle Potsos and Ashlynn O’Donnell added three apiece. Eliza Torres led the Ursuline attack with 13 kills and an impressive .379 hitting percentage. Adamec finished with 10 kills and 11 digs, while Potsos contributed seven kills and 12 digs. Paige Mitchell directed the offense with 26 assists while adding 14 digs. Ursuline finished with 56 digs and six total blocks against Kirkwood’s size. Sophia Brinley added eight digs, while the Bears’ defensive effort kept rallies alive and gave the offense repeated opportunities to score. The Bears showed grit, composure, and a willingness to compete for every point against a team with a clear height advantage. The match provided valuable experience as Ursuline continues to grow early in the season.