BRISTOL, Tenn. – Following a tough nonconference schedule, the King University men's volleyball team opened Conference Carolinas play with a win over rival Lees-McRae College. The Tornado used big nights from
Aaron Milstead and
Suetonius Harris to take the 3-0 victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 3, Lees-McRae 0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-21)
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 2-7, 1-0 Conference Carolinas; Lees-McRae 3-2, 0-1 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- The Tornado opened with a kill from Kellan Kennedy and an ace from Jack Sarnowski to grab the early advantage.
- Consecutive blocks from Sarnowski and Kennedy highlighted a 3-0 spurt that put King ahead 11-7.
- King gradually extended their lead as a kill from Diego Marcano followed by a block from Marcano and Milstead helped King open up a 16-11 lead.
- The Tornado lead continued to grow before Jackson Carroll eventually gave King the set 25-16 with a kill.
Second Set
- Lees-McRae held the advantage early in the set, opening up a 10-7 lead before Kennedy started a Tornado run with a kill.
- Macano followed with consecutive kills for the Tornado, evening the tally at 10.
- King broke a 12-12 tie with five straight points, started by a Milstead kill.
- Harris gave King a 17-12 lead with a service ace out of a Lees-McRae timeout.
- King continued to extend their lead before a Harris kill gave the Tornado the 25-17 victory.
Third Set
- A 5-0 run gave King the advantage early and forced a Lees-McRae timeout.
- On the spurt, Harris posted two kills before a Kennedy ace. A Milstead kill and block from Milstead and Marcano gave King the 7-3 lead.
- The King lead grew to 19-10 following another Harris kill before the Tornado had to hold off a late Bobcat spurt.
- Lees-McRae came back and pulled within 24-21 before King won the set 25-21.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Harris led King with 11 kills while Milstead followed with eight kills.
- Milstead posted a perfect 1.000 attack percentage as he didn't make an error on eight attempts. He added three blocks.
- Noah Melendez and Ryan Sumarsono led the defense with four digs each.
- Sarnowski handed out 30 assists to go along with two blocks.
FOR THE FOES
- Michael Marsans led Lees-McRae with 12 kills and four digs.
- Bradley Peters dished out 26 assists.
UP NEXT
- King continues their homestand on Friday night when they host Erskine College at 7:00 p.m.
- Lees-McRae hosts Emmanuel College on Friday night.
