SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Senior libero
Mackenzie Day recorded her 1,000-career dig in the second set of a 3-1 win for Converse over Southern Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon inside the Weisiger Center.
Day becomes the seventh Valkyrie since the turn of the century to join the 1,000-dig club. Elizabeth Yohe was the last Valkyrie to join the 1,000-dig club a few years ago and ended her career as the Valkyries all-time digs leader.
With the win the Valkyries sweep the weekend and improve to 5-12 overall and 4-4 in Conference Carolinas action. Meanwhile, Southern Wesleyan drops to 1-15 overall and 0-9 in conference play following the loss.
First Set: Converse 25, Southern Wesleyan 20
- Evelyn Fitz recorded the first kill of the night for either team, following a bad set and an attack error by the Warriors the Valkyries held an early 3-0 advantage.
- Southern Wesleyan countered with a pair of kills and a service ace to tie the match at three.
- With the set knotted at 10, the Valkyries used a 6-1 run to take a decisive lead over the Warriors late in the opening frame.
- Converse fended off a late push by the Warriors offense and won the opening set 25-20.
- Converse hit .237 for the set and recorded 14 kills in the opening stanza.
Second Set: Converse 23, Southern Wesleyan 25
- Gracie Wilson recorded the first kill of the second set but it was Converse led 5-3 after the first eight points of the set.
- A 5-0 run by Southern Wesleyan put the Warriors back in control as the Valkyries began their counter attack down 8-5.
- Trailing 14-9 the Valkyries began to apply pressure and make their first move of the set. A quick 3-0 spurt had Converse back within a pair of points trailing 14-12.
- Throughout the remainder of the set the Valkyries stayed within striking distance but were unable to tie up the set as they fell 25-23.
- In the second set, Converse hit .135 and finished with 14 kills.
Third Set: Converse 25, Southern Wesleyan 17
- Through the first 24 points of the set the two squads were deadlocked at 12. Converse used a 3-0 run to take a 15-12 advantage.
- The Converse offense continued their pressure as they took a 20-15 lead late in the frame.
- The Valkyries won the final five points of the set to take the period and hold a two sets to one lead.
- The third set was the best set offensively for the Valkyries as they hit .405 for the stanza and finished with a game high 17 kills in the period.
Fourth Set: Converse 25, Southern Wesleyan 13
- Converse started the fourth set on a 10-5 run and never looked back against the Warriors.
- The Valkyries quickly expanded their lead to 14-6 and forced Southern Wesleyan to call a timeout to stop the run.
- Converse ended the final set on a 6-2 run and completed a Friday, Saturday sweep for the first time all season.
Team Leaders:
- Evelyn Fitz led the team with 16 kills in the match, Tori Barr finished second on the team with 12 kills and Alayah Robertson added 11 kills in the win.
- For Fitz she became one of two Valkyries to record a double-double, as she finished third on the team with 13 digs. MacKenzie Schmucker was the other double-double recipient for the Valkyries following a 46 assist and 10 dig outing.
- Mackenzie Day not only joined the 1,000-dig club but also led the team with a 24-dig performance against the Warriors.
- Robertson led the team with a 9 block performance, Fitz finished second on the team with 4 blocks and AC Garbade finished third with three blocks.
Next Up:
- Converse will have almost a week off before hosting Chowan and Barton next weekend inside the Weisiger Center. Opening serve against Chowan will be at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 13th.
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