BANNER ELK, N.C. – For the second consecutive season the Converse University volleyball team advanced to the second round of the Conference Carolinas Championships but came up short in the second match of the afternoon.
Converse finishes the 2023 volleyball season with a 10-20 overall record and an 8-8 record in Conference Carolinas action.
In the first match of the day the Valkyries swept Belmont Abbey and eliminated the Crusaders from the tournament. A half hour later and the Valkyries were back on the court for the second round match against host Lees-McRae. The first match seemed to take a toll on the Valkyries as the Bobcats swept the Valkyries in the second match of the afternoon.
First Round: Converse 3, Belmont Abbey 0
- Converse finished the season 3-0 against Belmont Abbey with the final two wins coming via sweep against the Crusaders. The Valkyries advanced to the second round of the Conference Carolinas Championships for the second consecutive season.
- The Valkyries came out swinging in the first set of the day, as they raced out to an 8-1 lead over the Crusaders.
- Belmont Abbey began to chip away at the Valkyries lead and even cut the deficit down to five points at the 16-11 mark of the set. Converse held a 20-13 advantage but a late Crusader rally made the score closer than it needed to be. The Valkyries held on for a 25-21 opening set win.
- At the start of the second set it was the Valkyries that had to rally back against the Crusaders. Belmont Abbey raced out to a 7-2 lead over the Valkyries before Converse used a 7-1 run to take back the lead at 9-8.
- Moments later the Valkyries held a commanding 17-11 advantage over the Crusaders. Although the Valkyries seemed in control the Crusaders once again rallied late and tied the set at 22. Converse won the final three points of the set to take a 2-0 lead in the match over Belmont Abbey.
- In the third set, Converse took a 7-2 lead over Belmont Abbey. The Valkyries eventually extended their lead to 12-4 against the Crusaders.
- Belmont Abbey continued to hang around and chipped away at the Valkyries lead in small four point spurts. Converse held match point at 24-19 but the Crusaders rallied and scored five consecutive points to tie the set at 24.
- The two squads then went back-and-forth and each team held off numerous set/match points in the period. Following a Crusader attack error, Madison Gregory put the match away with a service ace. Giving the Valkyries a 33-31 third set win over Belmont Abbey.
- Evelyn Fitz led the team with 9 kills, Alayah Robertson finished second on the team with 7 kills and Tia Gripado added 6 kills. Robertson finished with a team high 7 blocks, while Gregory added 18 assists. Kaili Auld recorded 10 assists and Mackenzie Day posted a team best 15 digs in the win.
Second Round: Converse 0, Lees-McRae 3
- The two teams were dead even in the opening moments of the first set, but the Bobcats held a slight 10-9 advantage over Converse. Lees-McRae extended their small lead to 13-9 before Converse countered with a 4-0 spurt of their own.
- Converse stayed within striking distance of Lees-McRae on numerous occasions in the set and finally took their first lead at 24-23. The Bobcats finished the first set on a 3-0 run to take the opening set against the Valkyries.
- In the second set the Bobcats raced out to an 11-6 advantage over Converse. Moments later, Lees-McRae extended their lead to 23-13 and went on to win the second set 25-17.
- In the third set, Converse raced out to a 6-2 advantage before Lees-McRae countered with a 5-0 run to take back the lead.
- The two teams then went back-and-forth before a 4-0 run by the Bobcats gave them 22-19 lead. The Valkyries rallied and tied the match at 22 following a 3-0 spurt. The two teams matched each other point-for-point the rest of the way, until Lees-McRae won the final three points of the period to take the final set 27-25.
- Evelyn Fitz led the team with 14 kills, Ariel Bryant finished with 6 kills and Tia Gripado added 4 kills. Madison Gregory had a team high 18 assists, while Mackenzie Day added a team best 16 digs.
Next Up:
This concludes the 2023 volleyball season for Converse. For more information on the Converse University volleyball team, log onto
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