Virginia Tech 3, ETSU 0
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The East Tennessee State University volleyball team dropped its season-opening match Friday afternoon to Virginia Tech, 3-0 inside Cassel Coliseum. ETSU fell in each set by identical 25-19 scores. Senior Khadijah Wiley paced the Bucs with 10 kills in 21 attempts for a .381 attacking percentage.
The Hokies got out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first set and never looked back as they won the first stanza, 25-19.
The Bucs turned the tables on Virginia Tech in the second set as they scored eight of the first 10 points in the set. The Hokies answered, however, with their most efficient offensive set in the match hitting .370 (12 kills, 2 errors in 27 attempts) in a 15-4 run to not only take the lead on ETSU but also the set, 25-19.
Despite having a 4-0 and 3-0 run in the third set, ETSU was not able to upend the Hokies as it fell in the third and deciding set, 25-19. Junior Briana Allmonand freshman Mariah McPartland paced the Buccaneers’ offense in the third with three and two kills, respectively.
ETSU returns to action Saturday morning at 9 a.m. when it takes on Washington State University on the campus of Radford University. The Buccaneers will also have a match later in the day against LIU Brooklyn. First serve for the second match is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
UT-Martin 3, The Citadel 1
The Citadel 3, Siena 1
ATLANTA – The Citadel volleyball team picked up its first win of the 2015 season Friday against Siena at the Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Midtown Invitational hosted by Georgia Tech at O’Keefe Gym in Atlanta.
The Bulldogs (1-1) fell short in their season opener against UT-Martin, losing 3-1 (25-20, 28-26, 18-25, 25-15) to the Skyhawks.
Sophomore Moriah Smith and junior Megan Sowell led the way for the Bulldogs, with 12 kills each. The duo both earned double-doubles, posting 18 and 10 digs, respectively. Senior Bailey Kernodle earned her first of two double-doubles on the day, with 10 kills and 11 digs. Senior Rachel Keefer boasted a match-high 40 assists while also contributing 13 digs.
After dropping the first two sets, the Bulldogs went on a 5-0 run on two occasions in the third, leading them to a 25-18 triumph against the Skyhawks. While The Citadel managed to knot the score at 11-11 in the fourth set, they were edged by UT-Martin in a 25-15 loss.
Despite a 7-0 run by the Bulldogs, Siena claimed the first set of the second match, 27-25. The blue and white responded to sweep the next three sets, 25-18, 25-22, 25-14.
Smith posted a match-high 22.5 points, 22 kills, and 15 digs, recording her second of two double-doubles on the day. Junior Sam Espy also earned a match-high 22 digs. Keefer led in assists once again with 46.
The Citadel volleyball team will take the court Saturday against Costal Carolina at 2 p.m. and Georgia Tech at 7:30 p.m. in the final day of the Atlanta Midtown Invitational.
Missouri State 3, Furman 0
MILWAUKEE – Annie Bierman put down 12 kills and Jo Wilks turned in 35 assists, but the Paladins fell 3-0 (25-27, 23-25, 20-25) to Missouri State in the 2015 season opener at the Pepsi Panther Invitational in Milwaukee, Wisc. The loss drops Furman to 0-1 on the young season, while the Bears open the year with a 1-0 record.
Bierman added seven digs and two blocks to her stat line, while Amelia Bohlander added nine kills and three blocks. Freshman Carris Campbell put down nine kills, a .421 hitting percentage and added two blocks in her Furman debut. Wilks added six digs to go with her 35 assists, while libero Meg DeMaar added a team-high nine digs.
Missouri State used a kill to take a 24-21 lead in the first set, but the Paladins would not go quietly, using a 4-0 run to grab a 25-24 lead. Missouri State would not be denied, however, using three-straight points to take set one, 27-25.
Furman opened up an 8-4 lead in set two, before four-straight Paladin kills gave Furman a 12-5 lead, forcing a Missouri State timeout. Missouri State came roaring back, however, using seven-straight points to take a 23-22 lead in the set. Furman battled back to tie it at 23, but Missouri State used consecutive kills to take set two, 25-23.
The Bears then opened their biggest lead of the third set at 15-10, before the Paladins again battled back to tie the set at 17, 18, and 19. The teams then traded points until Missouri State used a 5-0 run to take the set, 25-20, and the match, 3-0.
Furman is back in action at the Pepsi Panther Invitational tomorrow, taking on tournament-host Milwaukee in a 1:30 p.m. matchup, shown live on ESPN3.
Jacksonville 3, Samford 1
AUBURN, Ala. - The Samford University volleyball team started off the 2015 season with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Jacksonville University on the first day of the War Eagle Invitational at Auburn Arena on Friday, Aug. 28.
Samford (0-1) scored the first point of the 2015 season on a kill down the line from junior right side Gabbi Greenwald. The team wouldn't see the lead again until late in the set when the Bulldogs took it 19-18 on an attack error by Jacksonville (1-0) outside hitter Lauren Gresham. However, from there SU rallied to take the first set of the season 25-21.
Jacksonville rebounded and commanded the second set from start to finish with a little help from Samford along the way. JU seemingly secured the set with a 13-4 run to give itself a 19-9 advantage late and eventually win 25-15.
The Bulldogs looked to rebound in the third set of the match and used a 10-2 rally to take an 18-14 lead late in the set behind the serving of Greenwald. Jacksonville however turned right around with a 9-1 run to take the set 25-21 and the lead in the match 2-1.
The Dolphins swam away with the match in the fourth set with 13 team kills on 24 attacks (.458) with only two errors. Ana Nieto-Gomez was the most efficient attacker for JU as she tallied 10 kills on just 15 attacks (.533) with only two errors.
Offensively it was senior Emily Meitz who was the most efficient Bulldog on the court. Meitz tallied nine kills on 20 attacks for a .250 hitting percentage. Freshman Krista Boesing led the team with 10 kills on the night.
Samford continues action in the War Eagle Invitational against reigning Southland Conference champion Stephen F. Austin at 9:30 a.m. before ending the invitational at 7:30 p.m. against Auburn on the SEC Network +.
Valparaiso 3, Chattanooga 2
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Valparaiso had to rally from one-set deficits on Friday evening but ultimately downed host Chattanooga 3-2 (16-25, 25-23, 15-25, 25-22, 16-14) to open the Chattanooga Classic.
Chattanooga won the first and third sets by wide margins, but Valpo was able to take the second and fourth sets to force the match to a decisive fifth frame. Even at 23-all in the second set, Emily Campbell and Taylor Graboski tallied back-to-back kills to give the Crusaders that set, while leading 22-21 in the fourth frame, Valpo claimed three of the final four points – including two kills from Campbell – to even the match at 2-2.
The fifth set saw Chattanooga get out to a 5-2 lead before the Crusaders rallied with four consecutive points to make the final frame a tight contest. With the set tied at 12-12, a Mocs error was followed by a kill from Graboski to give Valpo two match points at 14-12. UTC scored the next two points to send the final set to extra points, but Graboski then stepped up with back-to-back kills to close out the Crusader win.
Chattanooga will be back in action tomorrow against Troy at 12:30 p.m. and Eastern Kentucky at 7 p.m.
Western Carolina 3, Georgia State 2
Cullowhee, N.C. – The Western Carolina volleyball team went the distance in its opening match of the season was the Catamounts defeated visiting Georgia State, 3-2, inside the Ramsey Center Friday evening. The match was a part of the 2015 Catamount Volleyball Classic, which will continue Saturday morning at 11 a.m.
WCU’s youth led the way as sophomore Jo-Leigh Vervelde put down a team-high 17 kills while dishing out 18 assists. She also had six digs, three blocks and a pair of service aces for an all-around effort. Freshman Savannah Kohlhagen made a splash in her collegiate debut as she ranked second on the team with 11 kills while also contributing 10 digs.
The fifth and deciding set was an exciting one as it looked to be in WCU’s control late, but a run by the Panthers made things interesting. The Catamounts had match point at 14-10 but two kills and ace and a block tied the set at 15. Kaycey Cermin answered the run with a kill of her own to put the Catamounts up 15-14 but once again the Panthers rebounded with another kill. A blocking error by GSU gave Vervelde a kill to force WCU’s sixth match point and the match ended on a GSU attacking error, 17-15.
Georgia State was led by Eliza Zachary who had a match-high 22 kills and six blocks. Kitan Ajanaku added 18 kills while hitting a match-high .552. The final Panther in double-figures was Deidra Bohannon who put down 14 kills.
The Catamounts will not have much time to rest as they are back in action tomorrow at 1:30 pm and 7 p.m. with matches against Murray State and Fresno State. Georgia State and Fresno State get things started in the Ramsey Center at 11 a.m.
Georgia 3, Wofford 1
ATHENS, Ga. – After splitting the first two sets Friday night, Georgia held off Wofford for a hard-fought win (25-17, 20-25, 25-8, 25-18) on day one of the Benson Hospitality Invitational.
In her Wofford debut, freshman Colleen Reilly led the Terrier attack with eight kills. However, her .182 attack percentage led all Terriers as well, as Wofford finished at .033 (30-26-123) for the match. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs hit .302 (44-12-106) to pull away.
Georgia hit .412 to cruise through the third set. The Terriers composed themselves and battled through a fourth set that saw 10 ties and three lead changes. Santoro found a kill that tied the set at 15, but Georgia found a way to put it away. The Bulldogs ended the set and the match with 10 of the final 13 points, escaping the Ramsey Center with a win.
Wofford returns to the Benson Hospitality Invitational at 10 a.m., Saturday when it serves up day two against Memphis. Wofford’s final match of the tournament is scheduled for 4 p.m. against High Point.
Liberty 3, UNCG 0
LYNCHBURG, Va. – UNCG matched up against Liberty Friday evening in the 2015 season opener for both squads and it was the Lady Flames who emerged victorious by a 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-17) margin in the second match of the Liberty Invitational inside the Vines Center.
Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Muench was the lone player on either team to reach double digits offensively as she put down 12 kills and hit .250 (12k/5e/28ta). Senior defensive specialist Katherine Santiago and junior outside hitter Jessica Brezwyn pulled up a team-best 10 digs while redshirt freshman middle Jasmine Jones racked up three blocks (one solo).
The Spartans return to the court tomorrow for a pair of matches. UNCG will face Hampton at 10 a.m. before taking on Fairleigh Dickinson at 4:30 p.m.
Southern Miss 3, Mercer 2
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Mercer Bears opened the season on Friday at the Southern Miss Invitational with a narrow 3-2 loss to host Southern Miss. Despite dropping the first two sets, the Golden Eagles were able to sweep the remaining three sets to claim the win.
Morgan MacGilvary led the Bears with 15 kills, while Claire Waliczek added 18 assists in the loss.
Mercer will continue the Southern Miss Invitational against Southern tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.