SPARTANBURG, S.C. – For the first time in program history the Converse University volleyball team is advancing to the Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Championship Quarterfinals round, following a 3-0 sweep of #11 Barton on Saturday afternoon.
With today's win the Valkyries improve to 20-9 overall, their first 20-win season since 2006. The Valkyries have now won at least one postseason match in each of the last three seasons. On the other side of the net, Barton upset King in three sets and finishes the 2024 volleyball season with an 8-19 record.
Converse opened the match on an 8-2 run against the Bulldogs. A Barton timeout did not slow the Valkyries momentum as they raced out to a 20-10 advantage over the next several minutes of game time. The Bulldogs made a late rally in the opening set, but seven aces by the Valkyries servers held Converse to a 25-18 first set win.
The second set was tightly contested between the two squads as Converse held a 10-9 advantage early in the period. The Valkyries offense then caught fire and went on an 11-3 run against the Bulldogs. Holding a 23-15 lead late in the period, Converse won the final two points of the period to take a 2-0 lead over Barton.
In the third set, Converse opened the period on an 8-2 run for the second time in the match. The Bulldogs countered and came close to the Valkyries at the 11-6 mark of the period. Midway through the period the Valkyries momentum and crowd took over as Converse finished the match on a 9-2 run. Converse won the final set 25-12 and completed the three set sweep over Barton.
Converse finished with 58 points, 43 kills, 10 aces, 5 blocks, 40 assists, and 57 digs.
Ariel Bryant led the team with 14 kills,
Megan Carpenter and
Noemia Chiacchio both finished second on the team with 7 kills each. Chiacchio led the team with 5 service aces in the match, while
Tori Barr led the team with 4 blocks.
Jayden Johnson led the team with 16 assists and
Alysha Arroyo finished with 15 assists.
Mackenzie Day led the team with 17 digs and Arroyo finished second on the team with 10 digs.
Next Up:
The Converse volleyball team will be back in action on November 21
st at 5:00 p.m. at the North Charleston Athletic Center. The Valkyries will play the winner of the North Greenville bracket.
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