VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Converse University volleyball team went 1-1 on Saturday in day two of the Valdosta State Invitational.
 
Match One: Converse 3, Winston-Salem State 0

• The early 9 a.m. start did not bother the Valkyries on Saturday morning as they raced out to a 10-3 advantage over the Rams.
• Converse eventually held an 18-8 lead and won the opening set by a final score of 25-13. In the opening set the Valkyries recorded 12 kills and posted a .306 hitting percentage.
• In the second set the two teams were evenly matched through the first 18 points of the stanza. A 7-0 run by the Valkyries offense gave Converse a commanding 16-9 advantage midway through the set.
• A late rally by Winston-Salem State kept them in the set at 22-17, but Converse was able to close out the period on a 3-1 run to secure the frame.
• In the second stanza the Valkyries recorded 14 kills and posted a .308 hitting percentage.
• During the third set the Valkyries found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreboard for the first time all match.
• Trailing 11-4 the Valkyries began to make their move and slowly chipped away at the Rams lead. A few moments later and the Valkyries trailed 16-15 against Winston-Salem State.
• Still trailing 21-19 the Valkyries finally made their move in the final moments of the third set. Converse ended the stanza on a 6-1 run and completed their second sweep of the season.
• Converse finished with 53 points, 39 kills, 7 aces, 7 blocks, 38 assists and 79 digs.
• Alysha Arroyo recorded a double-double with 19 assists and 12 digs, while senior Mackenzie Day set a new three set match record with 32 digs on Saturday afternoon.
• Noemia Chiacchio led the team with 10 kills, Megan Carpenter finished second on the team with 8 kills and Ariel Bryant finished with 8 kills. Jayden Johnson finished second on the team with 12 assists, while Bryant 10 digs.

 
Match Two: Rollins 3, Converse 1

• The second match proved to be a game of runs in the opening set between Converse and Rollins.
• Rollins started out the first set with a 6-1 run, before Converse countered with a 4-0 spurt of their own. Rollins countered every Converse run for the remainder of the set, and eventually won the set 25-15.
• Converse finished the opening set with 11 kills and a .108 hitting percentage against Rollins.
• In the second set the Valkyries once again found themselves trailing 10-5 in the opening moments of the frame.
• Converse inched their way back into the set, trailing 17-13. However, the Valkyries luck ran out in the second set as Rollins won the frame 25-18.
• In the third set the two teams were evenly matched as they went point-for-point, Rollins held a small 11-10 lead midway through the stanza.
• An offensive outburst by Rollins eventually gave them an 18-12 advantage over Converse. The Valkyries clawed their way back into the set and trailed 21-17.
• Converse closed out the third set on an 8-1 run and avoided the sweep by winning the set 25-21.
• Early in the fourth set the Valkyries trailed 10-6, but once again rallied to pull within striking distance at 12-9.
• A 4-0 run by the Valkyries gave them their first lead of the set at 13-12 midway through the set. Rollins countered with a 6-0 run to take a 19-14 advantage, the Valkyries late rally fell short as Rollins clinched the match with a 25-20 fourth set win.
• Converse finished with 50 points, 39 kills, 6 aces, 5 blocks, 37 assists and 66 digs against Rollins.
• Megan Carpenter led the team with 12 kills, Noemia Chiacchio finished second on the team with 6 kills and Tori Barr finished with 5 kills. Chiacchio also led the team with 5 aces against Rollins.
• Alysha Arroyo recorded a team best 18 assists and Jayden Johnson finished second on the team with 10 assists. Mackenzie Day led the team with 22 digs, Ariel Bryant was second with 18 digs and Chiacchio finished third on the team with 13 digs.

 
Next Up:
Converse will stay on the road this week with a trip to Mars Hill on Tuesday evening. First serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
 
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