TUSKEGEE, Ala. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) volleyball team earned a 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 26-24) Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) West Division victory over the Tuskegee University (TU) Golden Tigers at the Daniel "Chappie" James Center on Tuesday night.
 
The Badgers clawed out some breathing room for an 18-14 lead over the Tigers (4-17, 2-6 SIAC West) after Tuskegee had battled virtually point-for-point in the early stages. TU rallied to cut the deficit to 21-18, but SHC maintained its poise and won the sprint to the finish for a 25-20 victory to open the match.
 
In the second set, SHC grabbed a 5-2 advantage and built a 14-8 cushion midway through the stanza before closing with a 25-18 win. Tuskegee refused to quit in the third set, however, keeping the Badgers within reach at 17-15 and pushing Spring Hill all the way to a final 26-24 decision to end the match.
 
In total, SHC built a .175 (34-16-103) attack percentage with six aces, 48 digs and eight blocks (2 solo, 12 assisted). Outside hitter Payton Gidney paced the Badgers with nine kills as sophomore steer Emmarose Neibert handed out 16 assists. Sarah Senft and libero Cassidi Sterrett served up two aces apiece while Sterrett and Randi De'Armitt each added 10 digs on defense.
 
Tuskegee finished with a .122 (34-20-115) attack percentage with six aces, 49 digs and three blocks (6 assisted). Crystal Hall led all scorers with 14 kills as Brianna Fisher served out 21 assists and two aces. Zahria Radford collected 17 digs with 20 service receptions.

With the win, SHC head coach Peggy Martin improved her career record to 1,298-338-8 to move just two wins away from the 1,300-wins plateau - a mark reached only once before by a collegiate coach at any level. Larry Bock, currently at the US Naval Academy, entered the 2017 season with a 1325-287 record.

The Badgers (16-2, 12-0 SIAC West) will travel to Montgomery on Friday to play a tri-match versus the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Chargers (12-6) at 6 p.m. followed by an 8 p.m. match with the hosting Auburn University Montgomery (AUM) Warhawks (7-9) at 8 p.m. AUM Athletics Complex. SHC returns home on Thursday, October 12, to host long-time rival Xavier University (La.) at 6 p.m. in the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center.