MOBILE, Ala. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) court volleyball team returned home to the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center for the first time in a month on Tuesday night and celebrated with a straight-sets 3-0 (25-10, 25-10, 25-18) non-conference victory over the Pensacola Christian College (PCC) Eagles.
The Eagles (9-19) had few answers to the Badgers' onslaught, falling behind 11-1 in the first set before falling in a 25-10 decision. The second set was a more competitive affair with the teams tied 7-7 before an 11-1 run by SHC decided the match that concluded in another 25-10 score.
PCC refused to be intimidated, however, and clawed out to an 8-4 advantage early in the third set only to fall behind 13-9. Once again, the visitors from Florida responded with a run of their own, tying the set at 14-14. Badger firepower proved too much for the Eagles over the long haul as SHC wrapped up the match with a 25-18 final set score.
As a team, the Badgers built a .402 (48-11-92) attack percentage with four aces as the PCC defense earned 29 digs and three blocks. The SHC defense held the Eagles to a .091 (19-12-77) attack percentage with two aces while lassoing 37 digs with four blocks.
Individually, senior opposite side hitter
Emily Sullivan of Chicago, Ill., had nine kills and freshman setter
Courtney Faulkner of Niceville, Fla., passed out 24 assists. Senior libero
Cassidi Sterrett of Lee's Summit, Mo., had 10 digs as did freshman
Mikayla Boyer of Covington, La. Sophomore middle hitter
Kassandra Fairly of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., participated in two blocks.
This match was the first meeting of the schools in volleyball since 2007. The Badgers now holds an 8-1 record in the series that began in 2001. With the victory, SHC ran its current winning streak to 26 matches, dating back to a 3-1 loss at Lee University on September 11.
The Badgers (27-4) travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., on Thursday to take on the William Carey University Lady Crusaders (13-13) in a non-conference match in the Ben Waddle Volleyball Facility at 6 p.m.
