Mixed Results for Volleyball in Opening Weekend

The UNCP women’s volleyball team kicked off the new season at the Coker/FMU invitational on August 24 and 25 at two separate locations. The first two games were against Catawba and Converse, and those games were played at Smith University Center in Florance, SC. The final two games that they played were against Anderson and Coker at Harris E. and Lousie H. Deloach Center in Hartsville, SC.

Catawba:

In the first set going into a timeout UNCP was up 14-12 following a pair of kills and a block by Aquia Jones. Then Catawba scored 5 of the next 6 points and that allowed them to get the momentum and win the first set. Catawba got out to a hot start in the second set and it forced UNCP to call a timeout. With a pair of kills from Amber Tyndall, the Braves pulled within one then a kill and a service ace Catawba went up three and didn’t look back. UNCP had their best attack percentage of .200 in the final set. The Black and Gold had an early lead but Catawba eventually got a commanding win in this one. The UNCP stats leaders were Aquia Jones with 10 kills, Casey O’Quinn and Elly Hicks both had 1 ace, Brianna Warren had 2 blocks, O’Quinn also lead the team with 2 assists and Raven Oates and Anna Heinz both had 11 Digs a piece.

Converse:

The Braves hit their match high in the first set which was .257.

The first set was tied early on and then UNCP scored 13 straight points to take a commanding lead and ultimately the victory. Shannon Skryd was serving for 12 of the 13 straight points and had 2 aces.

UNCP started the second set up but Converse battled back to tie it up late in the set. However, back to back aces from Skryd helped her team to get the win.

Just like the second set, the third was close early on until the Braves grabbed the lead and didn’t look back as they won completed the three-nil sweep.

The Black and Gold stats leaders were Amber Tyndall and Elly Hicks both with 11 kills, Shannon Skryd with 4 aces, Brianna Warren with 6 blocks, Casey O’Quinn with 19 assists and Anna Heinz with 13 digs. Anderson started off hot in the second set getting out to an early lead and just like the first set Anderson went on an 8-0 run and too secure the win. UNCP had the lead about halfway into the third set, but Anderson had an 5-0 run help them to get the win.

The Braves’ stats leaders were Shannon Skryd with 7 kills, Savannah Bean with 1 ace and she also tied with Brianna Warren and Skryd with 1 block. Bailee Jones had 20 assists and Skryd had 9 digs.Coker:Coker had the early lead in the first set until the Black and Gold took a one point lead with a kill by Amber Tyndall. Then with the score tied and two kills and a service ace, UNCP would get the lead and not relinquish it.

At the start of the second set Coker built a 13-9 lead but the Braves went on a 7-2 run which granted them their first advantage.

Coker took another small lead, then UNCP knotted it up with a 4-0 run which included two service aces from Bailee Jones but a pair of errors helped Coker take the win.

In the third set the Cobras started off hot, forcing UNCP to burn a timeout.Coming out of the break Coker went on a 9-0 run, but the Black and Gold would go on a 11-2 run themselves to get back into the match. Coker held onto the advantage and would go on to win the set.

The fourth set saw UNCP get up early, then Coker scored six straight points to take the lead. UNCP battled back to tie up the set but the Cobras closed out the set with a 12-2 run to wrap up the win. The UNCP stats leaders were Amber Tynall and Aquia Jones both with 9 kills, Bailee Jones with 3 aces, Savannah Bean with 6 blocks, Jones with 22 assists and Anna Heins with 24 digs.

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