Tritons Split on Opening Day at EC Invitational

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd volleyball team split a pair of matches on the opening day of the Eckerd College Invitational, sweeping Charleston (W.V.) in the opener before dropping a five-setter to No. 23 Augustana (S.D.) in the nightcap.

HOW IT ENDED
Game 1 Final: Eckerd 3, Charleston 0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-23)
Records: Eckerd 1-0, Charleston 0-2

Game 2 Final: No. 23 Augustana 3, Eckerd 2 (25-27, 25-20, 24-26, 25-12, 15-10)
Records: Eckerd 1-1, Augustana 2-0

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1

• The Tritons got off to a quick start in the first set, taking the first four points of the contest.  Eckerd maintained a four-point lead until UC managed to pull within one at 11-10.  However, the Tritons pulled away shortly thereafter taking points on eight of 10 rallies for a 21-14 lead.  Bolstered by the attack of Paula Hoffmann and Abbie O'Ferrell, EC stayed in control for the remainder of the set and picked up a 25-18 win.
• After a tight start to the second set, Eckerd again built a sizable cushion behind an efficient attack and strong service. Four kills by Asya Harris helped turn a one-point lead into a 15-9 advantage; later, back-to-back aces by Ivey Andrews played a part in pushing the score to 20-13.  The Golden Eagles got back within four points but three straight aces from Margot Balliet closed the door on a 25-16 Triton win in set two.
• Charleston won the first four points of the third set and didn't relinquish the lead until Eckerd rolled off four straight points behind Balliet's serve.  Another Harris kill put EC ahead for good, the first of a five-point run that saw the Tritons lead 23-18. UC, though, pulled back within a point at 24-23 but saw its comeback fall short as a service error ended the match.

Game 2

• Eckerd took control early in the opening set, building a 14-10 lead before Augustana slowly chipped away and tied the set at 18-18.  The Tritons never trailed until three straight points put the Vikings at set point. EC stayed alive on a kill from Sarah Johnshoy, then fended off set point again on a Hoffmann kill.  Hoffman followed with another kill to get Eckerd to set point before a Rachel Wisian kill finished it.
• In set two, Augustana bolted ahead early for an 11-6 lead.  Eckerd eventually tied the set at 14-14 and again at 19-19 but couldn't go in front.  The Vikings finished strong, winning points on five of the last six rallies for a 25-20 win.
• The Tritons turned a 9-9 tie into a 17-10 lead in the third set, only to see that lead disappear.  AU used a pair of four-point runs to go ahead, 23-22, and soon thereafter got to set point. As they did in the first set, the Tritons stayed alive with a side-out via an O'Ferrell kill. A Hoffmann kill followed to send EC to set point, and O'Ferrell did the rest with a service ace.
• Augustana raced to a 14-3 lead in the fourth set, seemingly in total control. The Tritons, though, rolled off seven straight points to pull within four.  It was as close as Eckerd would get.  The Vikings broke the run on a dump kill by Avery Thorson and soon rebuilt their 11-point lead while winning the final seven points of the set.
• In the fifth set, a run of four straight points gave AU an 8-4 lead, but Eckerd answered with its own four-point run to tie the set.  An attack error slowed EC's momentum and Augustana led the rest of the way. The Vikings took the final four points of the set on four straight kills to finish the five-set win.

 NOTES AND NUMBERS

• O'Ferrell set a new career-high in kills with 24 against Augustana while Arielle Erillo posted a new career-best in digs with 30. Fernanda Reis narrowly missed her career mark in assists, finishing the night with 51.
• Hoffmann recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 18 digs in the Augustana match.
• In game one, three freshmen led the way on the attack: Harris (8 kills), Rebekah Machovec (7), and Wisian (6). Nine players recorded multiple kills in the contest.
• The Tritons served 13 aces in the opener, led by four from freshman Ivey Andrews.

UP NEXT
Eckerd returns to the McArthur Center floor on Saturday to take on Seton Hill (Pa.) at 3:00 PM and Missouri-St. Louis at 7:30 PM.