GRANVILLE, Ohio – The Centre volleyball team wrapped up their tournament action at the Big Red Classic with a doubleheader against Denison and Houghton. The Colonels rallied from a 2-1 deficit to earn a five-set victory over a Denison team that was receiving votes in the AVCA poll, and then cruised to a 3-0 victory over Houghton.
GAME 1: Centre 3, Denison 2
- The opening set was a set full of runs.
Emily Goddin had two blocks and a kill during an 8-0 stretch that gave Centre the lead, but Denison scored the next six points to retake the advantage. With the Colonels up 19-17, Denison scored the next four points to take the lead for good as they won 25-22.
- In the second set, Centre bounced back as the Colonels grabbed the early lead and kept it for the duration. Denison cut the deficit to one at the midway point, but the Colonels fired back with seven straight points, eventually pulling away for a wire-to-wire 25-19 victory.
- Denison controlled the majority of the third set, leading early before the Colonels used an 8-1 run to take the lead at 18-17 following a block from Goddin. Following a timeout, the Big Red scored the next four points and the Colonels could get no closer than two the rest of the way, losing 25-22.
- The fourth set looked to be a repeat of the third as Denison held took a 12-8 lead, but the Colonels caught fire with 11 of the next 14 points. Leading 22-19,
Josie Grace-Mudd and
Brooke Palmer made a tandem block,
Emily Gardner delivered an ace, and then Palmer came through with the clinching kill to take the 25-19 win and push the match to the deciding fifth set.
- Leading 5-4 in the fifth set, the Colonels took charge with eight consecutive points, including three kills from Goddin. Centre never looked back, allowing just two Denison points the rest of the way and closing the book on the dramatic victory.
GAME 2: Centre 3, Houghton 0
- Houghton jumped out to a 15-6 lead in the opening set before the Colonels woke up in a big way, scoring 16 of the next 17 points to turn a nine-point deficit into a six-point lead. Centre cruised from there, scoring the last three points of the set as
Ally Knueven put home the final kill on a 25-18 victory for the Colonels.
- Centre had to battle from behind in the second set with some of their younger players in the lineup, and they passed the test as they scored the final 11 points of the set. During this 11-0 run,
Emma Howell and
Jade Loftus each had a kill and two blocks, while
Lily Hendricks delivered four aces, including three of the last four points of the set.
- The third set was the closest of the match, but Centre once again made the big plays when they counted. With the score tied at 21-21, Howell delivered consecutive aces and the Colonels never relinquished the lead, winning 25-23.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORES
- Goddin hit a career high mark for the second game in a row, leading all players with 16 kills against Denison. Knueven finished with ten kills, recording the first double digit kill game of her career.
- Gardner finished with a game high 31 assists in the Denison game.
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Madi Barron finished with 32 digs to lead all players against Denison, with Palmer adding 17 digs.
- Against Houghton, the Colonels finished with 39 kills, with 11 different players recording a kill.
Natalie Loper led the way with six.
- The Colonels hit .345 in the opening set against Houghton for one of their highest hitting percentages of the young season.
- Centre made play after play at the net against Houghton with 15 total blocks, led by Howell with 4.
NEXT UP
The Colonels will return to action on Sept. 7 for a Wednesday night clash with Hanover in Alumni Gym.
