MONTREAT, N.C. — The Montreat College volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Tennessee Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matchup. The Cavaliers recorded 23 kills and posted a -.110 hitting percentage, while the Bulldogs tallied 34 kills and hit .226. With the result, the Cavs moved to 4-9 overall (2-5 AAC), while TWU improved to 14-4 (5-2 AAC).
Montreat responded to a 5-0 deficit in the opening set, as Judah Reece recorded a kill before four consecutive points on Katie Alexander's serve brought the Cavaliers level at 5-5. Tennessee Wesleyan regained the lead, but the Cavs remained within striking distance through the middle stages behind kills from Josie Leatherman, Bonnie Trautman and Elizabeth Harrington. Harrington, Madysan Mauney, Leatherman and Trautman also contributed to several blocks during the stretch.
After the Cavaliers trimmed the margin to 13-11, the Bulldogs pulled away with a run highlighted by multiple blocks and back-to-back service aces. Reece added another kill following Montreat's second timeout, while Leatherman recorded a late kill, but TWU secured the frame, 25-16.
The Cavs worked back from an early hole in the second set, as kills from Trautman, Leatherman and Harrington helped Montreat stay within reach. Tennessee Wesleyan extended its lead to 10-5 before a Bulldogs error and back-to-back kills from Reece, both assisted by Taylor Shaw, brought the home team within two. After the teams traded points, TWU took control with a 12-point run to build a 23-9 advantage. A block from Trautman and Maggie Furches, followed by a Leatherman kill, accounted for the Cavaliers' final points as the visitors claimed the frame, 25-11.
The hosts opened the third set with a 3-0 run behind a Reece kill, an Alexander service ace and a block from Trautman and Reece; however Tennessee Wesleyan regained the advantage with an 8-1 spurt. After the Bulldogs moved ahead 14-9, Montreat answered with three consecutive points, capitalizing on a service error and an attack error before Reece converted a kill, which was assisted by Allie Anderson, to cut the deficit to 14-12.
Kills from Mauney and Trautman kept the Cavs with arm's length, while a service error and another TWU attack error brought Montreat within two at 18-16. The Bulldogs closed the set with the final seven points, though, to secure a 25-16 victory and complete the sweep.
Statistically, the visitors held the advantage in most categories, including digs (37-36), kills (34-23), blocks (9-6), service aces (6-2), assists (32-20) and hitting percentage (.226 to -.110).
Reece paced the Cavs with seven kills and eight points. Alexander finished with nine assists, two service aces and five digs, while Trautman added three kills and a team-high four blocks. Brittany Jack led the hosts with eight digs. Shaw also contributed nine assists to match Alexander.
Up next, the Montreat College volleyball team travels to Columbia, S.C., to face Columbia International University on Tuesday, Sept. 29. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
