BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University women's volleyball team won the opening two sets before UNC Pembroke forced a fifth set. The Tornado won the final set 15-8 and took the match 3-2. Prior to the match, the Tornado honored the three members of their senior class,
Zephanie Snyder,
Gabri Puertas, and
Bailey Fersner.
THE BASICS
SCORE: King 3 – UNC Pembroke 2 (25-22, 26-24, 21-25, 19-25, 15-8)
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 8-10, 6-8 Conference Carolinas | UNC Pembroke 11-16, 8-7 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- UNC Pembroke got out to the early 2-0 lead, but King came right with two of their own. Both teams traded points, with neither getting more than a three point lead until the Tornado took a 23-20 lead on an error from the Braves.
- Kills from Bailey Fersner and Capri Johnson sealed the 25-22 first set victory.
- Fersner had a set-high six kills and Kylie Love had all nine assists for the Tornado.
Second Set
- King continued their momentum into the second set as back-to-back kills from Izzy Krick and Fersner started the set with a 2-0 lead for the Tornado.
- The Braves got out to a six-point lead at 19-13 before King mounted a comeback that included two kills from Riley Nelson, two kills from Krick, kills from Gracia Love and Johnson and aces from Kylie Love and Puertas.
- Five Tornado players had multiple kills and three players had an ace in the second set win.
Third Set
- Fersner started the third set with a kill and the two teams once again traded points until UNC Pembroke went on an 8-2 run to take a lead. The visitors expanded their lead to 10 before King attempted another comeback.
- King closed the gap with an 11-5 run to close the set but it was not enough as the Braves came away with the 25-21 set victory and prevented the King sweep.
- Fersner again led the offense with 4 kills and Kylie Love had all 11 assists for King.
Fourth Set
- The Braves began the fourth set with a 4-0 run and would maintain their lead for the entirety of the fourth set.
- Fersner did nock 6 kills and Puertas had 6 digs. Kylie Love had 12 assists and an ace in the effort.
Fifth Set
- After UNC Pembroke forced a fifth set, King scored the first point on a block from Fersner.
- A block from Nelson and Johnson gave the Tornado the 3-2 lead, and King would not trail for the rest of the set.
- Fernser sealed the match win with a kill from Kylie Love. It was Fersner's 22nd kill of the afternoon.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Senior Bailey Fersner led the offense with a match-high 22 kills and 12 digs. It's her fourth double-double this season; fifth of her career. It is also her career-high kills in a single match and the first time she has had 20+ kills in a match.
- Senior Gabri Puertas had a match-high 22 digs and match-high 3 aces to help the Tornado from the backrow.
- Kylie Love had a season-high 52 assists to bring her season total to 424. She also had 10 digs for King
- Riley Nelson had 4 total blocks on the front line.
FOR THE FOES
- Precious Daley had a team-high 15 kills. Ruby Countryman and McKenna Hayes each added 14.
- Tyler Patterson is now at 951 assists on the year with 53 in today's match.
- The Braves had six different players get at least one ace and had 11 total, with Anaya Carter having the team high of 3.
UP NEXT
The King University women's volleyball team will have a doubleheader at home on Wednesday, Nov. 6 as they host Lees-McRae. Game one is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. and game two will follow at 7 p.m.
