BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University women's volleyball team picked up a three-set win Wednesday night over Conference Carolinas foe Belmont Abbey College.
Katie Harless became just the second Tornado in the Division II era to reach 2,000 assists during the victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 3, Belmont Abbey 0 (29-27, 25-20, 25-18)
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 7-12, 4-6 Conference Carolinas; Belmont Abbey 4-15, 4-7 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- The Tornado took an early 7-4 lead after a pair of early scoring runs, including a 3-0 run where Hailee Blankenship had two straight service aces.
- Belmont Abbey would then score seven straight points, taking a 11-7 lead and forcing the Tornado to call timeout.
- King pulled to within 12-11 after the timeout, but three Crusaders points in a row put them in front 15-11.
- The Belmont Abbey lead reached 19-13 before the Tornado started to rally, eventually tying the set at 22.
- King would eventually win the set after consecutive kills by Gracia Love gave them a 29-27 victory.
Second Set
- King took an early 6-2 lead, with Blankenship, Abigale Jayne and Love picking up early kills.
- The Crusaders came back to take an 8-7 lead, but King would then go on a 6-2 run to take a 13-10 lead.
- After Belmont Abbey got back to within 18-17, the Tornado would score the next four points, all of which were the result of Crusader errors to go ahead 22-17.
- A kill from Blankenship gave the Tornado set point, which they won on a Belmont Abbey service error, taking the set 25-20 and going ahead 2-0 in the match.
Third Set
- Belmont Abbey took an early 5-2 lead before the Tornado came storming back to tie the set at seven before a Love kill put them in front.
- The Tornado lead reached 14-10 on another Blankenship kill.
- After the Crusaders pulled to within 15-14, the Tornado would score the next four points, with Love picking up two kills and Jayne adding one to make it 19-14.
- The lead got to 23-18 before Blankenship closed the match with consecutive kills, winning the set 25-18 and the match 3-0.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- With her 36 assists on the night, Harless became just the second Tornado in the Division II era to reach 2,000 assists, and the first since Olivia Underwood did so. She currently sits second on the all-time list.
- Blankenship and Love both finished in double-digits for kills, with Blankenship leading with 18 and Love contributing 14.
- Blankenship also had 18 digs, while Gabri Puertas had 16.
- Abigail Belcher and Harless both had four block assists.
FOR THE FOES
- Jenna McCullough had 11 kills for the Crusaders, with Tyler Case adding eight.
- Ella Schellenberg finished with 32 assists, along with 13 digs.
- Lily Marsh had 18 digs to lead the Belmont Abbey back row.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado will play at Converse University Saturday afternoon.
- Belmont Abbey will be off until they host Lees-McRae Oct. 25.
