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Box Score 2 AIKEN, S.C. - The Eckerd volleyball team wrapped up its pre-conference schedule on Saturday at the USC Aiken Invitational, losing its opener in five sets to Lander (S.C.) before bouncing back with a straight-sets victory over the University of Montevallo (Ala.).
Things got off to a good start for the Tritons (6-2) in the opening game of the day, taking the first two sets from the Bearcats by scores of 26-24 and 25-20. Eckerd fought off set point in the opening set and took the final three points capped by a
Lauryn Nelson kill and
Kaitlyn Sibson ace. In the second set, EC built a 14-8 lead and stayed in control before taking a 2-0 lead.
However, Lander (7-0) battled back from a four-point deficit early in the third set and slowly pulled away to take a 25-20 win, then used that momentum to complete the comeback with a 25-16 set four win and a 15-5 win in the decisive fifth set.
Attack errors haunted the Tritons in the loss, committing 32 compared to 21 for Lander.
Katie Arnette led the attack with 14 kills while fellow senior
JaQuayla Baker added 13.Â
Sarah Johnshoy and
Lauryn Nelson recorded 11 each. Defensively, EC got a season-high 29 digs from
Kaitlyn Sibson to go along with double-digit digs from
Keri McMahon (17) and
Madison Whiting (16).
Eckerd shook off the loss to sweep Montevallo in its final match of the weekend by scores of 25-19 in all three sets.
The Tritons came out hot, hitting .316 in the opening set, and methodically pulled away with an efficient attack taking five of the last six points on kills from Nelson, Baker, Arnette and
Kali Boatwright.
In the second set, Eckerd fought back from an 11-7 deficit, rolling off seven straight points behind the service of Sibson to take a lead that it would not relinquish. The Falcons managed to get back within two points before EC closed the door behind the hitting of Arnette and Johnshoy.
Roles reversed early in the third set as the Tritons jumped out to a 10-4 lead only to see Montevallo take five consecutive points to get within one at 11-10. A Falcon setting error broke serve, however, and set the stage for four straight points as Eckerd pulled back ahead.
Eckerd pushed the lead to eight points (20-12) before Montevallo again closed the gap with a run of six straight points. The Tritons responded, though, by taking the next four points and finishing the sweep on a kill by
Stephanie Karlovics.
"I liked that we were able to bounce back after two tough losses," said EC head coach
Michelle Piantadosi. "The ladies did a great job to collectively regroup and make drastic changes so that we could secure the win against a very good Montevallo team."
Boatwright had a team-high 13 kills in the win while Arnette had 11. Sibson and McMahon again paced the back-row defense with 22 and 17 digs respectively.
The Tritons return to the McArthur Center on Friday and Saturday to open Sunshine State Conference play against the conference's two pre-season favorites. EC hosts No. 16 Tampa on Friday at 7:00 PM before welcoming No. 23 Florida Southern on Saturday at 4:00 PM.
