MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat volleyball team opened up Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play Saturday afternoon, dropping a nail-biting five-set thriller against Johnson University (Tenn.).
Johnson had the cleaner attack of the two sides in the opening set, committing four fewer errors in that department. The Royals grabbed a 15-10 lead using a four-point run featuring two kills and two Montreat attacking errors. That proved to be all the room the Royals needed to steal the first frame at McAlister Gym. Johnson would ultimately win the set 25-21.
Montreat rebounded in following set, sharpening up the attack and solidifying the defensive effort. The Cavs led by as many as nine points before taking the second set 25-19.
In the third frame, the Royals jumped out to an early 5-0 advantage. But the Cavaliers never stopped chipping away, eventually claiming their first lead of the set at 19-18. Then, at 22-22, Montreat used a
Haley Horton kill and two Johnson attack errors to seize the set and the match lead, 2-1.
The Royals had their most efficient set in terms of hitting percentage in the fourth frame. When trailing Montreat 13-8, Johnson found itself in a dominant stretch, one in which they won 13 of 16 points. The 25-19 set score ensured the match would advance to a fifth and final set.
Building off of that momentum, the Royals scored six of the first seven points; however, Montreat weathered the storm and, following a well-timed timeout, the Cavs would counter and bring the set level at 10. And yet, Johnson managed to find enough answers to stifle Montreat's late set push. Jensen Davis rattled off three kills to help the Royals snag the final five points and the match.
"The team fought hard today but couldn't find a way to minimize their errors," said Montreat head coach
Haley Paonessa. "Tuesday against Milligan will be a new day."
Davis led the way for Johnson with 15 kills. Horton did the same for Montreat with her 12 individual kills.
With the defeat, the Cavs drop to 4-3 overall and 0-1 in AAC play. They return to action on Tuesday at Milligan for another AAC affair.
