HICKORY, N.C. – The Converse University volleyball team had a challenging opening weekend against some of the best teams from the Peach Belt, Gulf South and South Atlantic Conferences.
 
Game One: USC Aiken 3, Converse 0

• In the opening set of the 2023 season the Valkyries came out aggressive on the offensive end hit .286 against the Pacers. Converse ended the set with 14 kills but it was not enough as they dropped the opening set 25-23.
• In the second set USC Aiken appeared to have the upper hand as they limited the Valkyries offense to just five kills. The Pacers easily won the second set 25-12.
• In the third set of the opening match, the Valkyries attempted to revive their offense with a nine-kill performance. However, USC Aiken finished the final set with 18 kills and won the last set 25-18.
• In the team statistical category, USC Aiken finished the match leading in points, kills, aces, assists and digs. While, Converse out blocked the Pacers 6-4.
• Individually, Evelyn Fitz finished with a team high 9 kills, Tia Gripado finished second on the team with 6 kills and MacKenzie Schmucker concluded the match with a trio of kills for the Valkyries.
• Gripado led the team with a trio of blocks, while Tori Barr finished second on the team with two blocks. Schmucker led the team with 12 assists on the afternoon, while Mackenzie Day led the squad with 12 digs. Gripado finished second on the team with 11 digs and Fitz rounded out the top-three with 7 digs.

 
Game Two: Lenoir-Rhyne 3, Converse 0

• The Valkyries faced off against host institution Lenoir-Rhyne in the final match of the day.
• Despite not having a high hitting percentage in the opening set, the Valkyries hung with the Bears for the majority of the period. Lenoir-Rhyne eventually won the opening set 25-17 behind 18 team kills in the opening stanza.
• In the second set of the evening the Bears hit .357 as a team and captured the second stanza with a final score of 25-10.
• In the third set of the night, the Valkyries went toe-to-toe with the Bears and even held set point at 24-23. The Valkyries offense finished the set with a match high 14 kills against the Bears defense. However, it was not enough as Lenoir-Rhyne won the final three points of the set to take the match at 26-24.
• The Bears finished the match leading in team points, kills, aces, blocks, assists and digs.
• Individually, Gripado finished with a team high 8 kills, Ariel Bryant finished second on the team with 7 kills and Tori Barr recorded 4 kills to round out the top-three.
• Madison Gregory and Schmucker both tied for the team lead with 9 assists in the match. Day finished with a team high 13 digs and Gripado finished second on the team with 12 digs.

 
Game Three: Valdosta State 3, Converse 0

• In the Valkyries final match of the Lenoir-Rhyne Invitational, Converse faced off against Gulf South Conference foe Valdosta State.
• Despite the Valkyries slow start to the match, Converse still managed to hang around and scrap with Valdosta State through the opening set. The Blazers eventually took the first stanza 25-20.
• In the second set the Blazers heated up and took the period by a final score of 25-12.
• In the final set of the afternoon the Valkyries once again hung around but came up short and fell 25-19.
• Valdosta State finished the match leading in team points, kills, aces, blocks, assists and digs against Converse.
• Individually, Ariel Bryant and Tori Barr each finished with six kills to lead the Valkyries offense. Gregory led the team with 13 assists, Day and Gripado each finished with a team high 9 digs.

 
Next Up:

• Converse will have almost a week off before heading down to the Sunshine State to battle in the Flagler Tournament against a quartet of opponents.

 
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