ALBANY, Ga. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) court volleyball team swept to three victories at the opening day of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Divisional Crossover hosted by Albany State University (ASU) on Thursday.
In the morning session versus the Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Panthers (1-3, 0-1 SIAC), the Badgers won 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-8) despite hitting just .117 (28-19-77) by turning in 10 service aces with 22 assists. The defense contributed two blocks and 28 digs.
Senior opposite side hitter
Emily Sullivan from Chicago, Ill., earned six kills as senior setter
Emmarose Neibert of Arnold, Mo., passed around 16 assists and three Badgers had two aces each. On defense, sophomore middle hitter
Kassandra Fairly of Fort Walton, Fla., tallied a block while senior libero
Cassidi Sterrett of Lee's Summit, Mo., roped in 12 digs.
The evening match with the Wildcats (2-4, 1-3 SIAC) of Fort Valley State University saw the Badgers take the 3-0 victory (25-7, 25-18, 25-12) building a .360 (40-13-100) attack percentage with 49 assists and 11 aces. The Wildcats managed just a .068 (17-11-88) attack percentage with two aces and four blocks.
Junior outside hitter
Allison Weimer of Covington paced the Badgers with 13 kills while senior outside hitter
Patty Blood of Cincinnati, Ohio, distributed three aces and freshman setter
Courtney Faulkner of Niceville, Fla., tallied 30 assists. Sterrett scooped up another 15 digs and three Badgers had two blocks each as the team stopped six shots at the net.
In the nightcap against the Paine College Lions (6-1, 1-1 SIAC), the Badgers took a 3-0 decision (25-16, 25-16, 25-15) with a .256 (47-17-117) attack percentage with six aces and 44 assists. The defense limited Paine to a .125 (28-16-96) attack percentage with 39 digs, three blocks and just one ace.
Fairly added 16 more kills to her day's totals as Neibert fed 19 assists to her teammates and senior outside hitter
Payton Gidney out of Grapevine, Texas, slapped two aces. Sterrett cradled 14 digs with two service aces and Weimer added two blocks.
The Badgers (13-4, 8-0 SIAC) will remain in Albany, Ga., on Friday to continue play in the SIAC Division Crossover beginning at 10 a.m. versus the host ASU Golden Rams (5-7, 3-1 SIAC).
