BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) volleyball team swept to three Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) victories to open play at the first day of the SIAC Divisional Crossover Tournament at the Birmingham Crossplex on Thursday.
 
SHC opened the day with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-9, 25-19) sweep of the Benedict College Tigers (1-3, 1-2 SIAC East). Freshman Allison Weimer of Covington, La., clubbed out a .647 (11-0-17) attack percentage while sophomore Emmarose Neibert of Arnold, Mo., distributed 18 assists. Sophomore libero Cassidi Sterrett collected 14 digs with two service aces and junior Morgan Eiland made three solo blocks with two block assists on the front line.
 
Next, the Badgers won a 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-19) verdict over the Albany State University Rams (2-4, 2-1 SIAC East), but this time Eiland led the offense with 11 kills while Weimer picked up three block assists and four service aces. Sterrett continued to handle the first touches by scooping in 28 more digs and junior setter Hannah Fromdahl handed out 18 assists.
 
SHC closed the day with its third sweep of the day in a 3-0 (25-15, 25-7, 25-14) outcome with Paine College Lions (0-4, 0-3 SIAC East) as Weimer added eight kills to her totals and Neibert passed around another 16 assists. Sterrett served up a team season-high eight aces with 10 digs and red shirt freshman Angele McClain tallied two solo blocks at the net.
 
On Friday, the Badgers (7-2, 3-0 SIAC West) will face the Claflin University Panthers (0-3, 0-0 SIAC East) at 8 a.m. and the Fort Valley State University Wildcats (1-3, 0-2 SIAC East) at noon in the Crossplex.