COLUMBIA, S.C.— The Montreat volleyball team went on the road to South Carolina's capital Tuesday night for an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) match with the Columbia College (S.C.) Koalas. After three sets, the Cavaliers came out on top, improving to 10-10 (7-10 AAC) on the year while recording a season-high 16 aces.
 
The teams split the opening four points of the competition before a serving run from Abby Maldonado that included four aces sparked a 5-0 stretch for the Cavaliers as the visitors built an early 7-2 edge. Back-to-back kills from Katie Dickey gave the Cavs a 6-point advantage and, though Columbia pulled within one (9-8), another four aces, three by Lexi Wible, coupled with a pair of kills from Kamryn Wolf stretched the lead quickly out to eight (17-9). The separation in addition to a 7-1 run allowed Montreat to easily cruise to a 1-0 advantage in the match, leading by as many as 14 points in a one-sided first set en route to a 25-12 victory.
 
After the squads each recorded two points to start the ensuing frame, Montreat used kills from Alex Marsh and Wolf to expand its lead to 7-3. A series of Koala errors pushed the Cavaliers edge to six (11-5), and the Cavs continued to expand their advantage. Behind another serving run from Wible, the visitors strung together four straight points to go up by nine (15-6). Easily overpowering a side that remained winless in AAC play (0-18) on the season, late aces by a trio of Cavaliers, including four by Dickey that fueled a 6-1 run, powered Montreat to its second consecutive double-digit set triumph thanks to a 25-11 score.
 
Katie Alexander and Maldonado both tallied additional aces as the Cavs captured six of the first eight points in the third and ultimately final set. Dickey registered multiple kills, and Reese Davis notched back-to-back unreturnable serves to lead by six (10-4). The Cavaliers doubled up their opposition through 21 points (14-7); however, Columbia (2-20, 0-18 AAC) trimmed its deficit to just three behind a 5-1 stretch. Despite the small adversity, Montreat answered, handing the Koalas their 13^th straight loss with a 25-17 win.
 
"Our serves are what really stood out this game. The girls were really aggressive from the baseline, and we were smart with where we put the ball around their block," noted head coach Brittany Carpenter. "Defense did a great job getting their feet to the ball and letting our setters run a quick-tempo offense. Our goal was to keep Columbia out of system, and we executed."
 
Overall, six different Cavs grabbed aces, led by Dickey with six. She also added nine kills and as many digs in the match. Wolf paced both sides with 13 kills to go with her 11 digs as the Lambertville, Mich. native collected her 10^th double-double of the year while hitting .480 on 25 swings. Wible tied Wolf for the match-high in digs (11) and registered three aces. Davis (14 assists) and Alexander (13 assists) split the setting duties.
 
As a team, the Cavaliers outhit the Koalas .253 to .098. Montreat nearly doubled up the home side in kills (37-20) and assists (31-18). The Cavs held a distinct 16-1 advantage in aces, and defensively the visitors grabbed 11 more digs (46-35). The 16 aces marked the most from the Cavaliers in a match since Sept. 18, 2020 at Columbia and the most in a 3-set competition since Sept. 6, 2008 at Spellman College.
 
Volleyball now begins its home stretch of four contests to end the regular season. The Cavaliers go toe-to-toe with the Johnson University (Tenn.) Royals inside McAlister Gymnasium on Friday at 6:30 p.m.