Box Score MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Spring Hill college volleyball team opened the 2014 season with a 3-2 (25-22; 21-25; 25-11; 15-25; 15-13) non-conference loss at Faulkner University at Davis Gymnasium in Montgomery on Thursday evening.

The Lady Eagles (5-2) trailed Spring Hill by as much as six points midway through the opening set, but rallied late to take a 25-22 win. Much like the first set, the Badgers jumped out to an early 14-8 advantage only to see Faulkner rally to cut the score to 15-12 and the Eagles twice sliced the point spread to two points at 16-14 and 18-16 before taking a 19-18 lead. This time, however, SHC kept cool under the pressure and fought back for a 25-21 victory in the set.

Faulkner reversed the roles in the third set by taking an early 11-7 early lead and then doubled up the Badgers at 16-8 in route to a 25-11 win and a 2-1 lead. The Badgers clawed out an 8-6 lead in the fourth set and built a 17-7 bulge when Faulkner rallied to make it a 17-12 game. Spring Hill would hold on to win the set 25-15 to force a decisive fifth set.

The teams were knotted at 4-4 in the final frame when Faulkner took a 6-4 advantage and continued to hold an 8-6 lead at the switch of sides. SHC rebounded to tie the set at 9-9. An attack error by the Eagles out of a timeout gave SHC the 10-9 lead and sophomore Savannah Becnel from New Orleans, La., earned a kill to make it 11-9 in favor of the Badgers. A Faulkner block would tie the set at 12-12, but a block by Becnel gave SHC the 13-12 lead. Two points by the Eagles, however, put the home team at match point at 14-13 and a final block at the net by the Eagles would then seal the win for Faulkner.

Becnel led the Badgers with 14 kills and a .458 attack percentage (14-3-24) to go with two block assists. Freshman setter Marie Rooks of Tallahassee, Fla., handed out 45 assists while senior Megan Haber of Lillian, Ala., and freshman Hannah Masoner each collected 13 kills. Senior Sami Maurer of St. Louis, Mo., pulled in 34 digs and 28 receptions. As a team, SHC hit .176 (59-31-159) with two aces, 74 digs and three total blocks.

Faulkner turned in a balanced attack with Sarah Stout-Dubberley earning 16 kills, Hannah Shanley getting 12 kills and Brittnay Renfroe collecting 11 kills with a solo block and two block assists. Lindsey Ortner hauled in 18 digs with 39 receptions. In total, Faulkner hit .260 (60-20-154) with an ace, 69 digs and 13 total blocks.

Spring Hill (0-1) will remain in Montgomery this weekend to begin play in the annual Faulkner University Invitational on Friday versus the Southeastern University (Fla.) Fire (2-2) at 3 p.m. and the Milligan College (4-2) Buffaloes at 7 p.m.

(photo courtesy Faulkner University Sports Information)