Box Score BELMONT, N.C. –In their Conference Carolinas opening match The King University women's volleyball team went the distance and then some at Belmont Abbey College. The Tornado fought back after dropping the first two sets on the road and nearly pulled off the comeback, but the home standing Crusaders took the final set 16-14.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Belmont Abbey 3, King 2 (25-11, 25-22, 22-25, 20-25 16-14)
LOCATION: Wheeler Center, Belmont, N.C.
RECORDS: King 3-6, 0-1 Conference Carolinas, Belmont Abbey 5-4, 1-0 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Belmont Abbey didn't waste any time getting the offense going as they jumped out to a 10-3 en route to winning the first set first set 25-11.
- In the second set King was rallied off a late run to get within 24-22, but the Crusaders took the frame 25-22.
- King didn't go down quietly as the Tornado offense got rolling in the third set. Middle hitters Grace Underwood and Sarah Collins combined for six kills and no errors in the 25-22 King victory.
- The Tornado continued their momentum in the fourth set behind five kills from Lauren Willoughby and four from Ashleigh Manke with neither making an error. The Tornado hit .275 in the set as they even the match at 2-2 with the 25-20 set win.
- King grabbed a 4-1 lead in the fifth set, but the Crusaders scored seven of the next eight points to take an 8-5 advantage. The Tornado battled back and evened the set at 14-14, but Belmont Abbey scored the final two points to take the set 16-14 and escape with the 3-2 victory.
- Posting a double-double Olivia Underwood handed out 43 assists and added 13 digs.
- Manke landed a team high of 16 kills, while also adding nine digs to nearly miss a double-double.
- Willoughby recorded a double-double accounting for 12 kills and 14 digs.
- Amy Serowski anchored the defense with 16 digs while Casey Williams added 13.
- Collins led King with a .435 attack percentage, accounting for 10 kills while Grace Underwood registered eight kills.
FOR THE FOES
- Belmont Abbey recorded a .237 hitting percentage while holding King to .174.
- Hannah Schellenburg led the way for the Crusaders with 27 kills and 17 digs, and hit.339 in the match.
- Setter Gabby Martinez posted 60 assists and added 15 digs for the double-double.
- Aimee Cloninger also recorded a double-double going for 11 kills and 11 digs.
- Caitlin Hankins reached double figures in kills with 11.
- On the defensive side, Sarah Kenney posted a match-high 22 digs.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- For Willoughby, the double-double marks her third of the year.
- Olivia Underwood posted her second double-double of the season after registering seven a season ago.
- King has already played three five set matches, including their last two matches. In 2014 the Tornado played four five set matches all season.
- The loss in their Conference Carolinas opener marks the first for King since joining Conference Carolinas in 2011. Prior to the loss, the Tornado were 4-0 in league-opening matches, three wins coming at home, including two against Belmont Abbey.
- The Tornado have struggled at Belmont Abbey, dropping their last five matches. However, the teams have spilt their regular season matchups for the past three years, each winning on their home court.
UP NEXT
- King's next stop in conference play will be at Southern Wesleyan University on Friday at 7:00 p.m.
- On Friday Belmont Abbey travels to take on Emmanuel College for their next match.
