SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University volleyball team defeated Belmont Abbey 3-0 on Tuesday night inside the Weisiger Center.
With the win the Valkyries improve to 8-17 overall and 7-6 in Conference Carolinas action. Converse also improves to 3-1 overall in the Northwest Division standings. The win also marked the Valkyries first sweep in 367 days, last season Converse swept Southern Wesleyan on October 29
th. The last time the Valkyries swept Belmont Abbey was on October 28, 2006, this was also the last season in which the Valkyries swept the season series against Belmont Abbey.
The match was close through the first 13 points of the opening period as Converse held a slight 7-6 advantage over Belmont Abbey. Moments later the Valkyries used a 5-0 run to take a commanding 15-8 lead over the Crusaders. The Valkyries lead expanded to 19-10 before Belmont Abbey began to make a late push against the Converse defense. Slowly but surely the Crusaders had clawed their way back into the match and even had a late 3-0 run to pull within four points at 24-20.
Reese Plont finished the opening set for the Valkyries with a kill as Converse took the first period 25-20.
In the second stanza the Valkyries jumped out to an early 11-6 lead against the Crusaders. Belmont Abbey countered and almost rallied to catch the Valkyries at 15-14. Converse fed off the crowd's energy that was propelled by a Halloween candy sugar high and took a 20-14 advantage late in the set. Once again, Belmont Abbey hung around and made it interesting late down 23-20, but Converse stayed composed and
Tori Barr put the nail in the coffin on the second set.
For one of the few times all night, the Valkyries found themselves in a fight in the third set as Belmont Abbey had an early 12-11 edge over Converse. A timely 8-1 run by Converse flipped the set upside down, as the Valkyries suddenly led 19-13 in the third set. Converse held on to win the final set by a final score of 25-17.
Converse finished the match with 54 total points, 38 kills, 12 service aces, 4 blocks, 34 assists and 41 digs.
Evelyn Fitz led the team with 10 kills while
Ariel Bryant and
Reese Plont both finished the match with 8 kills. Bryant also led the team with 5 service aces,
Jasmine Hamilton added 4 aces and
Mackenzie Day added 3 on the night.
Alayah Robertson led the team with a trio of blocks, while
Madison Gregory led the team with 29 assists. Day also led the team with 10 digs on the evening.
Next Up:
Converse will hit the road this weekend as they travel to King on Friday night and Lees-McRae on Saturday afternoon. First serve against the Tornado will be at 7:00 p.m. in Bristol, Tenn.
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