BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University women's volleyball team returned home and took their second win in as many matches in front of the home fans in the Student Center Complex. The Tornado took the first set in extra points before winning the third and fourth sets to defeat Bluefield State University 3-1.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 3, Bluefield State 1 (31-29, 19-25, 25-21, 25-15)
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 4-6, Bluefield State 1-6
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- Abigale Jayne started a 5-0 run with a kill as King look to take control of the opening set.
- Back-to-back kills from Riley Nelson and Katie Blankenship gave King a 10-4 advantage.
- The Tornado opened up a 17-10 lead on a Bailey Fersner ace and led 18-12 before the Big Blue went on a run.
- Bluefield State scored six straight points to even the tally at 18 before the teams traded points.
- King finally scored consecutive points to take a 24-22 lead following a Blankenship kill and Big Blue ball handling error.
- However, Bluefield State scored consecutive points to even the score at 24.
- The teams traded points until a Jayne kill and Bluefield State miscue gave King the set 31-29.
Second Set
- Four straight Bluefield State points gave the Big Blue a 6-4 lead in the early going.
- The Tornado deficit grew to 11-6 following another 4-0 run from Bluefield State.
- A 6-1 Bluefield State a 20-15 lead as the Big Blue scored five of the final seven points to take the set 25-19.
Third Set
- King jumped out and scored the first four points of the set on kills from Fersner and Jayne as well as an ace from Katie Harless.
- The Tornado pulled away with four straight points, including kills from Jayne, Jersey Wines and Blankenship to take a 16-10 lead.
- King held off a late run from Bluefield State as Blankenship's fifth kill of the set gave King the 25-21 victory.
Fourth Set
- King broke a 5-5 tie with four straight points, three coming in kill from Blankenship.
- Blankenship added two more kills on a 4-0 Tornado spurt that extended the Tornado advantage to 13-7.
- The Tornado put the set out of reach with a 6-0 run to take a 20-10 lead.
- On the spurt, Chloe Clayton and Fersner had a pair of kills while Jayne added another.
- Emma Grace Bice gave King the 25-15 victory with a service ace, giving King the 3-1 win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Blankenship led King with 17 kills and seven digs.
- Jayne followed with 13 kills and a .323 attack percentage.
- Fersner chipped in with 10 kills.
- Harless handed out 42 assists and added 11 digs for the double-double.
- Claire Wilson led the back row with 26 digs, including 11 in the fourth set.
FOR THE FOES
- Kateryna Dashevska and Allyson Martin led Bluefield State with 19 kills apiece.
- Martin added 18 digs while Dashevka accounted for 10 digs.
- Aydan Dalak handed out 45 assists and added eight digs.
- Veronica Butler chipped in with 16 digs.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Wilson set a career-high with 26 digs, topping her previous best of 24 from a season ago.
UP NEXT
- King travels to take on Emory & Henry College on Saturday. First serve from Emory, Va. is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
- Bluefield State takes on Virginia Union University on Thursday.
