The Central Methodist University volleyball team earned two more wins by splitting its four matches at the Avila University tournament this weekend. CMU beat University of St. Mary and Haskell Indian Nations University, but suffered losses against Bacone College and Friends University.

After splitting matches on Friday, CMU earned a four-set win Saturday morning against Haskell. The Lady Eagles won 21-25, 25-16, 25-12, 25-11. Freshman Alexandra Slaton (Reeds Spring, Mo.) led CMU offensively with 14 kills, while senior Taylor Reed (Toledo, Ohio), who was named to the all-tournament team, added 10. Junior Sarah Lewey (Kansas City, Mo.) had 33 asssists and three ace serves in the match. Sophomore Makenzie Shepard (Leavenworth, Kan.) had a team-high four ace serves, while also recording seven kills.

In Saturday's second match, CMU was overpowered by Friends 25-15, 25-19, 25-11. Shepard and Reed combined for 17 of CMU's 26 kills in the match. Sophomore Jennifer Garrett (Higginsville, Mo.) posted a team-high eight digs.

Central Methodist opened the tournament by earning a hard-fought five-set win over University of St. Mary Friday morning. The Lady Eagles won the first two sets 25-20 and 25-22, but University of St. Mary won games three and four 25-14 and 25-15 to force the fifth set. The Lady Eagles earned the 15-11 win in the fifth set to get the match victory. Shepard recorded a career-high 15 kills to lead CMU, while Reed added 12. Lewey posted 27 set assists. Garrett and senior Melanie Touchette (Millstadt, Ill.) each finished with seven digs to lead CMU defensively.

In their second match Saturday, the Lady Eagles came up just four points shy of winning another five-set match. CMU fell in five sets to Bacone after winning the first two. The Lady Eagles dropped the match 25-15, 25-18, 20-25, 22-25, 11-15. Reed posted a career-high 14 kills, while Shepard finished with nine. Sophomore Kylie Melkersman (Boonville, Mo.) had a team-high 20 assists. Garrett and Touchette each finished with six digs.

For her performance in CMU's four matches at the tournament, Reed represented CMU on the all-tournament team. Central Methodist, now 3-6 on the season, will return to action with a pair of home matches this week. The Lady Eagles will face Graceland University in a Heart of America Athletic Conference contest at 7 p.m. Tuesday. CMU will then host No. 18 Missouri Baptist University at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.