Box Score FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. – The King University women's volleyball team had nearly a week off before they traveled to take on Emmanuel College in a key Conference Carolinas match. The Tornado came away a sweep, but it wasn't easy, taking the first set 30-28 before cruising to a 25-15 second set win. King then took a narrow 25-23 third set win to clinch the top spot in the Conference Carolinas North Division.
The Tornado (19-10, 11-4 CC) held a lead for the majority of the first set, and their advantage grew to 16-11 following a Grace Underwood kill before the Lions started to come back. Emmanuel (12-14, 5-10 CC) got within two points, but King answered a stretched lead back four. It appeared as though King would go on to take the set, leading 24-22, but the Lions scored back-to-back points even the frame. The team then traded points with King having the upper hand until Sarah Collins registered consecutive kills to give the Tornado the 30-28 first set win.
King didn't slow down in the second set, jumping out to and early 6-2 lead. The Tornado continued to extend their lead, earning their largest advantage of the set, 10 points numerous times down the stretch. Collins gave King a chance at set points, and Casey Williams ended the 25-15 set win with her lone kill of the night.
Emmanuel jumped out to a 10-6 lead early in the third set, but the Tornado came storming back as Jordan Baty ignited a 6-0 run with a kill. Underwood added a service ace before Collins and Lauren Willoughby capped the spurt with back-to-back kills. Trailing 13-12, King went on another run, this one a 6-1 spurt to gain an 18-14 advantage following a Willoughby ace. The Lions came back to even the score at 22, but Baty and Collins registered kills to give King a chance as set point before Lion error gave the Tornado the 25-23 win and the sweep.
Baty led three Tornado in double figures in kills with 12 as Kremer followed with 11 to go along with 18 digs for the double-double. Willoughby added 10 kills while Collins recorded nine kills and a .471 attack percentage. Williams added 11 digs for the defense, and Payton Tipton was the third Tornado in double figures with 11 digs. Olivia Underwood dished out 41 assists to go along with nine digs.
With the win, King clinches the top spot in the Conference Carolinas North Division with on match to play. The Tornado will be in action again on Saturday when they travel to Erskine College. Erskine lost their first Conference Carolinas match of the season on Friday night to Lees-McRae College, 3-2. First serve is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
