Bristol, Tenn. – The King University women's volleyball team delivered a resilient performance on Saturday afternoon, defeating Emmanuel College 3–1 inside the Student Center Complex. The Tornado (12-14, 10-9 Conference Carolinas) overcame a second-set setback to win three of four frames against the Lions (17-9, 14-5), showcasing a potent offense and steady defense.
Set One
King opened the match with precision, hitting .231 and edging Emmanuel 25–23 in a tightly contested opener.
Gracia Love and
Riley Nelson sparked the attack, while
Faith Morse anchored the defense with 25 digs. The set featured 10 tie scores and four lead changes, setting the tone for a competitive afternoon.
Set Two
Emmanuel responded with its strongest set of the match, hitting .270 and taking the frame 25–21. Ellie Jackson led the Lions with 12 kills, while setter Marusa Pesut distributed 35 assists. Despite a late push from King, Emmanuel held firm to even the match.
Set Three
King regained momentum in the third, hitting .161 and recording 15 kills. Nelson and Love continued to lead the offense, while
Capri Johnson added key blocks to slow Emmanuel's attack. The Tornado secured a 25–20 win, capitalizing on Emmanuel's five attack errors.
Set Four
The final set was all King, as the Tornado surged to a 25–11 victory behind a match-best .244 hitting percentage. Love tallied six kills in the frame, and
Princess Emma Oluwa added timely digs to seal the win. King's defense held Emmanuel to a -.065 hitting percentage, closing out the match with authority.
Match Statistics
- Final Score: King def. Emmanuel (25–23, 21–25, 25–20, 25–11)
- Total Tie Scores: 21
- Lead Changes: 9
Individual Highlights – King University
- Gracia Love: 16 kills, .273 hitting, 8 digs
- Riley Nelson: 12 kills, .550 hitting, 6 blocks
- Capri Johnson: 8 kills, 5 block assists
- Chloe Clayton: 4 kills, .250 hitting, 2 block assists
- Faith Morse: 25 digs, 2 aces
- Kylie Love: 20 assists, 13 digs
- Amaya Hall: 13 assists, 13 digs
- Princess Emma Oluwa: 6 kills, 14 digs
King's ability to adjust mid-match and dominate the final set proved decisive.
