BRISTOL, TENN. – The Converse University volleyball team won a five set thriller over King on Wednesday evening inside the King Student Center Complex.
Converse is now 11-4 overall this season and 5-1 in Conference Carolinas action. The Valkyries currently sit atop the Conference Carolinas Northwest Division standings. King, meanwhile, drops to 4-8 overall and 2-6 in Conference Carolinas play this season.
In the opening set, Converse raced out to an early 11-6 advantage over the Tornado. King stayed within striking distance and eventually trailed 16-15. The Valkyries continued to maintain pressure on the Tornado and held a set point opportunity at 24-20. King rallied back winning the next four points and tying the first set at 24. Converse won the final two points of the first set to take the early lead over the Tornado.
In the second set, the two teams were once again deadlocked through the first 14 points of the period. A 5-0 run by Converse gave the Valkyries a 12-7 advantage midway through the stanza. Converse continued to build on their lead and eventually held a 19-13 edge over the Tornado. The Valkyries won the second set 25-19.
In the third set, the two teams found themselves tied through the first 16 points of the frame. This time, however, King made a 4-0 run to take an early lead over the Valkyries. Converse countered the Tornado run and eventually tied the third set at 16. King went on to win their first of the night 25-22 over the Valkyries.
King jumped out to a 6-1 advantage over the Valkyries in the fourth set. Converse rallied back to put the pressure on the Tornado, and pulled within a point of King on three different occasions. Late in the frame, Converse trailed 19-18 but it was to little to late, as the Tornado won six of the last nine points to force a fifth set.
In the final set, Converse trailed 3-1 before winning five of the next six points. The Valkyries used a timely 4-1 spurt to pull ahead 10-8 midway through the stanza. King continued to make it close and put the pressure on the Valkyries all the way to the end. Converse closed out the match by winning the final two points of the set 15-12.
Converse finished with 81 points, 67 kills, 7 aces, 7 blocks, 61 assists and 73 digs.
Noemia Chiacchio led the team with 18 kills,
Ariel Bryant finished second on the team with 12 kills, and
Alayah Robertson contributed 12 kills. Bryant finished with a double-double, as she also posted 18 digs in the match, and also led the team in service aces (3) and tied for the team lead in blocks (3).
Alysha Arroyo also posted a double-double with a 50 assist and 12 dig performance against the Torando.
Mackenzie Day finished the night as the team leader in digs with 19.
Next Up:
The Converse volleyball team will stay on the road tomorrow night with a match against Belmont Abbey.
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