SPARKILL, N.Y. – The Holy Family University volleyball staved off a match point to begin a 3-0 run that secured a five-set triumph (25-23, 17-25, 25-20, 21-25, 17-15) at St. Thomas Aquinas on Thursday night. 
 
After the Tigers failed to convert two match points of their own, a Jayden Bralts (Jupiter, Fla./Jupiter) kill tied it at 15-15, and following a Spartans error it was Shelby Kinzer (Sioux Falls, S.D./Washington) and Ava Kidd (Walton, Ky./Larry A. Ryle (Saint Anselm)) combining for the match-winning block. 
 
Individual Highlights

• Kidd led all players with 16 kills on .483 hitting and five blocks
• Kalia Espenlaub (New Market, Md./Saint John's Catholic Prep (Millersville)) and Kinzer were also in double-figures with 11 and 10 kills, respectively, with both adding three blocks
• Cadence Palmer (Holland, Pa./Council Rock South) had eight more digs than any other player, finishing with 18, while Morgan Steck (Lakewood, Colo./Lakewood) had seven more assists than any other player, finishing with 31
• Bralts paced Holy Family with three aces

 
How it Happened

• Trailing 9-10 in the first set, Kidd had back-to-back kills as part of four unanswered that put HFU on top for good
• After St. Thomas Aquinas controlled the second, the Tigers started quick in the third with six straight points that both began and ended with a Kidd kill
• The Spartans forced a fifth by overcoming a 14-16 deficit with a 1-6 run

 
Up Next
HFU returns home and to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) play when it hosts Post on Saturday at 12 p.m.