CHARLESTON, WVa. – The Converse University volleyball team went 1-1 on day one of the University of Charleston Invitational.
 
The Valkyries dropped a competitive opening match on Friday morning, before pulling out a five set win in the second match of the afternoon. Converse improves to 5-2 overall on the year, as they continue to rewrite the history books with their best start to a season in recent memory.   
 
Match One: Roberts Wesleyan 3, Converse 1

• The first match of the day was a highly competitive contest between both teams that went the distance or more in every single set.
• In the opening set, Converse trailed 6-3 to Roberts Wesleyan in the early moments of period. Then the Valkyries rallied with four straight points to hold an early 7-6 advantage against the Red Hawks.
• For the rest of the opening period the two squads went point-for-point with one another, until they were deadlocked at 23 in the final moments of the stanza. Ariel Bryant put the exclamation point on the opening set with a kill, as Converse won the last two points of the frame.
• In the first set the Valkyries finished with 13 kills and posted a .224 hitting percentage against the Red Hawks defense.
• In the second set, the Valkyries started out hot and a 6-3 advantage over Roberts Wesleyan. This time, it was the Red Hawks turn to respond with an offensive spurt of their own against the Valkyries defense.
• Once again, the two squads found themselves deadlocked at 23 in the late stages of the second period. However, this time the Red Hawks won the final two points to steal a set away from the Valkyries.
• In the third set, the Valkyries were in complete control in the opening moments as they raced out to a 14-6 advantage over Roberts Wesleyan.
• The Red Hawks started to chip away at the Valkyries large lead, following a 5-0 spurt the Red Hawks had nearly completed the comeback trailing 18-17.
• Converse was unable to close out the set, as the Red Hawks finished the period on a 4-1 run. Roberts Wesleyan took the third set by a final score of 26-24.
• In the fourth set the Valkyries once again controlled the match in the early moments of the set. Converse held a 12-7 advantage, but watched the Red Hawks storm back with yet another timely run.
• Roberts Wesleyan continued to be a thorn in the Valkyries side as they went point-for-point for the remainder of the set.
• The Red Hawks eventually held match point against the Valkyries at 24-21. Converse dug deep and rallied winning the next four points to give the Valkyries a 25-24 edge.
• Roberts Wesleyan once again finished the set on a 4-1 run and took the match against the Valkyries.
• Converse finished with 68 points, 53 kills, 4 aces, 11 blocks, 52 assists, and 108 digs.
• Ariel Bryant and Alysha Arroyo both finished with double-doubles for the Valkyries. Bryant finished with a team best 13 kills and finished second on the team with 19 digs. Arroyo finished with 25 assists and 15 digs in the match.
• Tori Barr finished second on the team with 11 kills and Alayah Robertson finished third on the team with 9 kills. Barr led the team with 6 blocks, while Robertson was second on the team with 5 blocks.
• Jayden Johnson finished second on the team with 21 assists. Mackenzie Day led the team with 37 digs and Noemia Chiacchio finished third on the team with 18 digs.

 
Match Two: Converse 3, Elizabeth City State 2

• The second game of the afternoon for the Valkyries turned out to be a five set thriller against Elizabeth City State.
• In the opening set the two squads were dead even at seven through the first 14 points of the set. Converse used a 4-0 spurt to take an early 11-8 advantage over Elizabeth City State.
• Just over midway through the set the two teams found themselves tied at 17. Converse closed out the set on an 8-0 run to claim the first set of the match.
• In the second set the Valkyries raced out to leads of 11-6 and 13-7 against the Vikings. Despite holding a 20-17 late in the frame, the Valkyries watched Elizabeth City State win the final eight points of the second set.
• In the third period the Valkyries offense was once again the aggressor as they raced out to a 13-8 advantage over the Vikings.
• The Valkyries lead eventually grew to 17-12 before Elizabeth City State started a rally. The Vikings won the next five points to tie the set at 17. The two teams traded points the rest of the way, but the Vikings won the final two points of the set against the Valkyries.
• In the fourth set the two squads were deadlocked at 10 through the first 20 points of the set. Once again, the Valkyries offense began to pick apart the Vikings defense as they started to build a small lead.
• Converse held on down the stretch and took the fourth set 25-18, forcing a fifth and decisive set.
• In the final set of the night the Valkyries raced out to an 8-3 lead against the Vikings. Elizabeth City State rallied late and kept the Valkyries on edge trailing 14-13. Converse closed out the match with an Ariel Bryant kill.
• Converse finished with 77 points, 56 kills, 13 aces, 8 blocks, 46 assists, and 93 digs.
• Ariel Bryant, Alysha Arroyo and Noemia Chiacchio all finished the match with double-doubles. Chiacchio finished with 19 kills and 19 digs, Bryant finished with 14 kills and 12 digs, and Arroyo finished with 27 assists and 12 digs.
• Arroyo also led the team with 6 service aces, while Tori Barr finished third on the team with 10 kills. Mackenzie Day once again led the team with 33 digs on the night.

 
Next Up:
Converse will be back in action tomorrow afternoon against Charleston and Central State starting at 12:00 p.m.
 
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