Volleyball Southern Conference

Wofford sweeps Presbyterian

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Lauren Miller hit .842 with a match-high 16 kills, leading the Wofford volleyball team to a convincing 3-0 sweep (25-8, 25-23, 25-15) over Presbyterian College Wednesday night in non-conference action at Benjamin Johnson Arena.

Miller was flawless, earning her 16 kills on 19 swings without a single error. In the second set, she was perfect, connecting on all seven of her attacks. It helped Wofford put together the only rally they needed, coming back from a 16-11 deficit to take the set before cruising through the third.

Sophomore setter Molly Mayo finished with a match-high 42 assists. She had 18 in the second set alone, seven of which went to Miller.

Miller’s performance wound up being 15 percentage points shy of the Southern Conference record for hitting percentage in a match. The record is .857 (min. 12 kills), which has been done three times. At one point, Miller had the record, hitting .941 with 16 kills on 17 swings. Presbyterian was able to dig her final two attacks.

Miller led Wofford (13-12, 4-4 SoCon) to a season-best hitting percentage of .437, the team’s highest since hitting .500 in a win over NC A&T in 2011. The .437 percentage ranks sixth-highest in program history.

Miller wasn’t the only Terrier swinging well. Sophomore Bella Santoro hit a career-high .524, notching 13 kills on 21 attempts. The Riverside High School product also tied a career-high with six aces. Three of them came in the first set when she served 11 straight points to put Wofford on top 17-4.

Presbyterian (3-18, 1-6 Big South) looked to turn the tide in the second. Wofford jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but the Blue Hose responded, tying the set at seven before going on a 7-2 run to go up 16-11. Wofford didn’t panic and scored eight of the next 11 points to tie it up at 19. It remained tied at 23, but the Terriers put it away. Sophomore Alex Holland slammed one of her six kills to earn set point and Miller polished it off.

The first four points of the third set went to Wofford. The Terriers led 15-5 when Santoro’s sixth and final ace of the match hit the floor.

Wofford returns to Southern Conference play with two home matches this weekend. The Terriers welcome Western Carolina on Friday and Mercer on Saturday. Both matches start at 6 p.m.