CLEVELAND, Ga. — The Montreat College volleyball team wrapped up its time at the Labor Day Bear Invitational with a rematch against the host institution, the Truett McConnell University Bears. After falling in three sets during Friday's pool play matchup, the Cavaliers suffered the same result during Saturday's single-elimination bracketed tournament clash. With the 25-17, 25-14, 25-22 defeat, the Cavs moved to 2-4 overall on the year, while TMU climbed to 7-3.
Neither side could create separation from the opposition early in the opening set. Kills from
Josie Leatherman and
Rafaela Scherer kept the visitors level at 7-7 during the initial stages of play; however, a 6-1 spurt enabled Truett McConnell to pull away and establish some distance between the two squads.
Bonnie Trautman and
Maggie Furches continued to fight for Montreat, unleashing kills to combat TMU points, but the Cavaliers were unable to cut into the gap. Three consecutive points closed out the frame, 25-17, in favor of the hosts.
Truett McConnell wasted no time vaulting in front during the second set. The Bears rattled off 16 of the first 18 points, seizing a 16-2 edge and forcing the Cavs to call both of their timeouts. A Trautman block coupled with numerous errors brought the visiting side within 17-9, but another solid close to the frame saw TMU win the set, 25-14.
Playing with its back against the wall, Montreat fought valiantly until the end. Truett McConnell sat in the driver's seat for most of the third frame, gradually building a nine-point lead (17-8). The Bears' advantage sat at 21-13 before the Cavaliers made their charge. Five straight points, which included two kills from Leatherman and a service ace from Trautman, slashed the deficit down to 21-18. Additional Leatherman attacks and an
Elizabeth Harrington block suddenly brought the visitors to within one at 23-22. Despite the surge, TMU held on late, clinching the match with a 25-22 set triumph.
Montreat registered more digs than its counterpart (50-46), but the hosts paved the way in most of the other statistical departments, including hitting percentage (.182 to -.020), kills (31-24), assists (26-23), service aces (8-2) and blocks (9-3).
Allie Anderson collected a team-best 16 digs and added two assists. Leatherman led the Cavs with nine kills on 24 attacks.
Taylor Shaw finished with a squad-high 14 assists and contributed eight digs. Trautman posted three kills, one service ace and two total blocks.
"I'm really proud of the growth we're seeing from this group compared to where we were a year ago," said Head Coach
Cristina Viera. "The results don't always tell the full story, but the fight does. Coming back from 11 points down at match point and finding a way to win is a great example of that. We've continued to battle and respond when things haven't gone our way. These early challenges are preparing us for what's ahead, and I'm excited to see us keep building as we head into our first conference match next Friday."
The Montreat College volleyball team now turns its focus toward Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play, which begins on Friday with a road matchup at Columbia College. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Columbia, S.C.
