FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. – The King University women's volleyball team started a key Conference Carolinas match at Emmanuel College by winning the first set. However, the homestanding Lions came back to win the final three sets to take the contest 3-1 on senior night.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Emmanuel 3, King 1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-22)
LOCATION: Shaw Athletic Center; Franklin Springs, Ga.
RECORDS: King 13-10, 8-4 Conference Carolinas; Emmanuel 11-11, 8-3 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- Consecutive kills from Brittney Ramsey and Hailee Blankenship highlighted a 3-0 King run that gave the Tornado a 5-3 in the early going.
- King later went on a 5-1 run to regain a 13-10 lead following kills from Julie Ward and Georgia Davis.
- However, the Lions came back to take an 18-17 lead before King went on another run.
- Allie Zimmerman started a 7-0 run that vaulted the Tornado into a 24-18 lead with a kill.
- Paula La Mendola ended the run with a service ace before a Ramsey kill gave King the 25-21 win with a kill.
Second Set
- Just as they did in the first set, the teams went back-and-forth in the early going before a 5-0 Emmanuel lead gave the Lions control of the set at 18-12.
- The Tornado tried to climb back but couldn't' get closer than four points as Emmanuel evened the match with the 25-20 win.
Third Set
- Blankenship came up with a kill and back-to-back aces, vaulting King to a 15-14 lead following the 3-0 spurt.
- However, Emmanuel used a 5-0 run to turn a 17-16 deficit into a 21-17 advantage.
- That was all the advantage the Lions needed as they closed out the 25-19 win by scoring four of the final five points.
Fourth Set
- Emmanuel got off to a hot start, taking an 8-2 lead in the early going.
- King fought back with a 7-3 to pull withing 13-11 following a Blankenship kill.
- A kill and an ace from Blankenship later pulled the Tornado within 16-15, but the Lions responded with a point.
- The Tornado couldn't get the tying point and the Lions later went on a 5-1 run, including three straight points to take a 24-19 lead.
- King scored three straight points, but that was it as Emmanuel came up with a kill to take the set 25-22 and the match 3-1.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Ward led the Tornado with 12 kills and 29 digs.
- Ramsey followed with 10 kills and five blocks.
- Davis added eight kills, 16 assists and seven digs.
- Blankenship chipped in with nine kills and 14 digs.
- Katie Harless handed out 23 assists and added seven digs while Claire Wilson posted 19 digs.
FOR THE FOES
- Aleksandra Hamuda led Emmanuel with 19 kills and 13 digs.
- Alaina Emminger added 10 kills.
- Taylor Roberts chipped in with eight kills and six blocks.
- Victoria Alexander led the defense with 22 digs while Hallie Richardson added 18 digs.
- Gabrielle McGlamery handed out 43 assists and added 15 digs.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The 29 digs for Ward sets a career-high, topping her previous best of 27 set last season.
UP NEXT
- King takes on Southern Wesleyan University on Saturday. First serve from Central, S.C. is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
- Emmanuel travels to Erskine College on Tuesday night.
