WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – What a way to start the season!

The College of Saint Mary volleyball team opened the 2022 season with two wins at the Keiser University Chick-fil-A Classic.

In the season opener, College of Saint Mary fought off a persistent Columbia International University squad 3-1. The Flames won the first set 26-24 and then the second set 25-20. But the Rams battled back to take the third set 25-22. CSM then clinched the victory with a 25-15 win in the fourth and final set.

In the nightcap, the Flames cruised past Faulkner University 3-0. CSM won by scores of 25-18, 25-15 and 25-7.

"Overall it was a great first day," CSM Coach Rick Pruett said. "Everyone was a factor. I thought we were just really consistent. We cut down the unforced errors after the first set of the first match and just played well."

In the first match, Makenna Freeman (SR/Omaha, Neb.) and Lexie Langley (JR/Fremont, Neb.) led the Flames with 15 kills each. Teammate Grace Werner (SO/Omaha, Neb.) tallied 14 kills, Kamryn Willman (SR/Grand Island, Neb.) had 10 and Rachel Rosenquist (SO/Dakota Dunes, SD) finished with nine.

Setter Lauren Anderson (JR/Gretna, Neb.) compiled 55 assists and also had three ace serves. Libero Rachel Cushing (JR/Council Bluffs, Iowa) had a match-high 19 digs, while Freeman added 12. Rosenquist chipped in with four block assists.

Against Faulkner, Rosenquist paced the Flames. She had 13 kills and five block assists. Werner and Willman both finished with eight kills, while Anderson tossed up 32 assists. Cushing compiled 23 digs.

"Offensively we hit .293 vs. Columbia International and .340 vs. Faulkner," Pruett said. "Lauren did a great job spreading the ball around and offensively we put the ball away."

The Flames return to action Saturday for two more matches in the tournament.