ETTRICK, Va. – The King University women's volleyball team closed the Virginia State Tournament by splitting a pair of matches. The Tornado swept host Virginia State before falling to Conference Carolinas foe North Greenville University in five sets, including 19-17 in the decisive frame.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 3, Virginia State 0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-7); North Greenville 3, King 2 (25-22, 20-25, 25-22, 14-25, 19-17)
LOCATION: Multipurpose Center; Ettrick, Va.
RECORDS: King 3-1; Virginia State 2-1; North Greenville 4-0

HOW IT HAPPENED – VIRGINIA STATE

First Set

• King used a 12-3 run, capped by a 4-0 spurt to open up a 21-9 lead in the opening set. Julie Ward and Abby Anderson recorded kills at the end of the run.
• A block from Tristyn Lozano and Kayley Holtzclaw gave King a chance at set point as the Tornado won the set 25-15.

Second Set

• Ward started the second set with back-to-back kills as the Tornado jumped out to a 10-2 lead following a pair of 4-0 runs.
• Rebekah Hill later served up consecutive aces and Anderson ended a 5-0 run that gave King 17-6 lead with another kill.
• Lozano recorded one of her two kills in the match to give King a chance at set point as the Tornado won the set 25-14.

Third Set

• The Tornado put the match away in the third set, starting with a 9-2 lead and later using a 9-0 run that extended their advantage to 20-4.
• An ace by Caitlyn Crawford gave King match point, and Hill came up with her third kill of the match, giving King the set 25-7.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Ward led King with seven kills and hit .583 in the match.
• Anderson handed out 19 assists and added three kills and three digs.
• Hill led the defense with 10 digs while Georgia Davis followed with eight.

FOR THE FOES

• Jailyn Ivey led Virginia State with 10 kills and six digs.
• Jasmine Jones posted eight digs to lead the defense.

HOW IT HAPPENED – NORTH GREENVILLE

First Set

• North Greenville grabbed the upper hand in the opening set with a 4-0 spurt to take a 9-4 lead.
• The Tornado deficit grew to 15-9 before a block from Davis got the Tornado going.
• That sparked a 6-1 run, capped by a Hill kill that brought King back within 17-16.
• However, the Crusaders answered with four straight points as they went on to take the set 25-22.

Second Set

• King held a narrow advantage throughout the early part of the set until a 4-0 run gave the Tornado separation.
• Ward came up with a kill on the spurt before the teams started to trade points down the stretch.
• Anderson gave King the 25-20 victory with one of her five kills in the match.

Third Set

• The Tornado trailed by four in the early going before a Holtzclaw kill ignited a 5-0 King run.
• Davis and Ward came up with a block on the run that put King ahead 13-12.
• However, North Greenville answered with a 9-2 run to gain a 21-15 lead.
• King didn't go down easy as they fought off six set points for the Crusaders, but in the end it wasn't enough as North Greenville took the set 25-22.

Fourth Set

• The Tornado looked to force a fifth set, behind Ward and Holtzclaw in the fourth set. The duo accounted for eight of King's 12 kills in the set.
• King gain control with a 7-2 run, giving the Tornado a 15-8 lead.
• Holtzclaw started a 7-1 Tornado spurt that closed the set with one of her four kills in the frame.
• A pair of Ward kills gave King a chance at set point before Holtzclaw and Anderson came up with a block that gave King the 25-14 victory.

Fifth Set

• Hill gave King a 9-6 lead with a pair of kills, but the Crusaders answered with a 6-2 run to gain a 12-11 advantage.
• Ward recorded back-to-back kills, and a North Greenville miscue gave King a 14-12 lead and two chances at match point.
• However, the Crusaders scored consecutive kills, sending the set to extra points.
• The Tornado had two more chances at match point, but North Greenville earned a side out each time.
• The second time North Greenville scored consecutive points to have a chance at set point.
• Holtzclaw came up with a kill for the Tornado to keep the match going.
• However, North Greenville scored the final two points, taking the set 19-17 and the match 3-2.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Holtzclaw posted a career-high 15 kills in the match and hit .345. She added five blocks, including one solo stuff.
• Ward also posted 15 kills and added nine digs.
• Anderson recorded her first double-double of the season with 38 assists and 11 digs.
• Sydney Pigage registered a career-high 23 digs. Her previous best of 17 came in 2016.
• Lozano added a career-high 15 digs, her first career match in double figures. She added five blocks, including two solo blocks.

FOR THE FOES

• Katie McManaway led the Crusaders with eight kills.
• Sara Miller handed out 13 assists and Eaden Shockly followed with 12 helpers.
• Shockly added 14 digs for the double-double.
• Whitley Kahler match Shockly's 14 digs to lead North Greenville.

UP NEXT

• King travels to Harrogate, Tenn. to take on Carson-Newman University and Lincoln Memorial University on Friday. The first match is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. before the Tornado take on the host Railsplitters at 6:00 p.m.