Box Score BRISTOL, Tenn. – In a rematch of a tight five set match a couple weeks ago, the King University men's volleyball team locked up with North Greenville University in another close match in the Student Center Complex. The Crusaders took the first two sets before Jeff Sprayberry and the Tornado offense brought King back to force a fifth set. The teams went back-and-forth down the stretch and the Crusaders prevailed, taking the set 18-16 and the match 3-2.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: North Greenville 3, King 2 (25-18, 25-23, 19-25, 18-25, 18-16)
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 3-10, 1-7 Conference Carolinas; North Greenville 7-4. 6-4 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
- King scored the first three points of the match, but the Crusaders answered with eight straight points and opened up a 10-4 lead.
- The North Greenville advantage grew to as many as eight in their 25-18 victory.
- With the score even at 7-7 in the second set, the Crusaders gradually pulled away, opeing up a 17-12 lead.
- King came back and got within 23-22 ad 24-23, but North Greenville scored the last point, taking the set 25-23.
- The Tornado grabbed the lead early in the third set and used a 4-0 run started by Sprayberry to open up a 15-9 advantage.
- Sean Luhmann gave King an 18-11 lead with a kill as the Tornado went on to take the set 25-18.
- The King offense kept rolling in the fourth set, quickly opening up an 8-1 lead following a Luhmann kill.
- North Greenville tried to comeback, but Sprayberry registered a kill before Jon Wheaton and Nick Drooker teamed up for a block, giving King the 25-18 victory.
- In the fifth set, the Crusaders used a 4-0 to break a 6-6 tie and take a 10-6 advantage.
- However, King came back, scoring five of the next six points to even the frame at 11-11.
- King warded off a pair of Crusader match points before rolling off back-to-back points to take a 16-15 lead following a Sprayberry kill.
- However, North Greenville scored the next three points to take the set 18-16 and the match 3-2.
- The Tornado hit .228 in the match, including .355 in each the third and fourth sets.
- Sprayberry paced the Tornado with 22 kills and 14 digs for the double-double.
- Luhmann also recorded a double-double, recording 11 kills and 11 digs.
- Drooker nearly had a double-double, posing 49 assists to go along with nine digs.
- Jimmy Nuckolls paced the defense with 16 digs.
- Matthew Lychock registered nine kills and added 10 blocks.
FOR THE FOES
- Jon Chiles led North Greenville with 18 kills and 11 digs for the double-double.
- Luuga Vailu'u and Connor Rhine both registered 11 kills while Caleb Arelus added eight kills and 10 digs.
- Dustin King posted 24 digs.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The double-double for Sprayberry is his second of the season and the 14 digs is a career-high.
- Luhmann's double-double was also his second of the season.
- Nuckolls matched a career-high with 16 digs.
UP NEXT
- King is in action again on Saturday when they travel to Limestone College. First serve is slated for 7:00 p.m.
- North Greenville hosts Coker College on Saturday afternoon.
