BRISTOL, Tenn. – In a clash of two of the top teams in the Conference Carolinas West Division over the last few years, the King University women's volleyball team fell to North Greenville University on Tuesday night. The Tornado tried to fight back in the third set, but couldn't get past the solid Crusader defense, falling 3-0.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: North Greenville 3, King 0 (25-17, 25-18, 30-28)
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 8-7, 3-1 Conference Carolinas; North Greenville 8-7, 5-0 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- North Greenville pulled away in the opening set with a 5-0 run that broke a tie at 11.
- The Crusader offense stayed hot as the run extended to 11-3 before back-to-back Tornado points.
- It wasn't enough, however, as the Crusaders scored three of the final four points to take the set 25-17.
Second Set
- North Greenville didn't slow down in the second set, using another 5-0 run to take a 7-2 lead in the early going.
- A 4-1 Crusader run extended the King deficit to 12-6 before a pair of blocks from Abigail Belcher and Chloe Clayton and Clayton and Katie Harless tried to ignite the Tornado.
- King added three more points to pull within 13-11, but the Crusaders responded with three straight points and a 6-1 run to push their lead to 19-12.
- The Tornado couldn't get another run going as the Crusaders took the set 25-18.
Third Set
- Bailey Fersner came up with two kills that sparked a 4-0 King run.
- A Claire Wilson ace gave King a 12-5 advantage and capped the spurt.
- A 5-0 North Greenville run cut the King lead to 12-10 before the Tornado went on a 5-1 run, including four straight.
- Abigale Jayne posted two kills on the run and a Jersey Wines ace gave King a 17-11 lead.
- However, North Greenville scored eight of the next nine points, including six consecutive to take a 20-19 advantage.
- North Greenville later led 24-22 before back-to-back Jayne kills evened the tally at 24.
- The teams then traded points before North Greenville's Nicole Santiago posted a kill and ace to give the set to North Greenville 30-28 and the match 3-0.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Hailee Blankenship led the Tornado with 11 kills and 10 digs.
- Jayne followed with 11 kills.
- Harless handed out 31 assists and added 17 digs.
- Wilson and Wines accounted for 17 digs apiece while Belcher recorded four blocks.
FOR THE FOES
- Paige Campbell posted 15 kills and an attack percentage of .375 to lead North Greenville.
- Kellie Davis added nine kills.
- Ashlyn Conner handed out 46 assists and added 14 digs.
- Klayton Mathis led the back row with 22 digs while Whitley Kahler added 12 digs.
- Chandler Morrell chipped in with seven kills and 10 digs.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The double-double for Blankenship is her sixth of the season.
- Harless posts her seventh double-double of the season, including her sixth straight.
UP NEXT
- King is in action again on Tuesday night when they travel to Converse University. First serve from Spartanburg, S.C. is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
- North Greenville is in action again on Saturday at Converse.
