ATLANTA – The Centre volleyball team wrapped up play at the Jenny McDowell Invitational at Emory with another doubleheader as they faced a pair of 20-win teams from last season in East Texas Baptist and Greenville. The Colonels fell to ETBU in straight sets before rebounding to defeat Greenville in a five-set thriller.
 
Game 1: ETBU 3, Centre 0
 
- The opening set saw the Tigers hold onto a small lead throughout as they held the Colonels at bay before scoring the last four points to get the win by a score of 25-18.
- A 7-1 run at the midway point by ETBU was the biggest difference in the second set as Centre could not rebound and the Tigers grabbed a 2-0 lead with a 25-17 win.
- The third set was the closest of the match. It looked to be a repeat of the first two as the Tigers took a 19-13 lead, but Olivia Chojnacki sparked a run to tie the game that included a pair of aces. A tandem block by Emily Goddin and Isabel Thornton made it 22-22, but ETBU scored the final three points to take the match with a 25-22 win.
 
Game 2: Centre 3, Greenville 2
 
- The Colonels and Panthers played it close for the opening stages before Centre blew open the first set with an 8-0 run as Abby Swartz provided three of the kills. From there, Centre cruised to a 25-17 as Syd Bietz put home the clinching kill.
- In the second set, the Panthers fended off numerous Centre rallies late in the frame to even the match with a close 25-21 victory.
- The third set saw Centre in control early and often, taking a huge lead at the midway point with an 8-1 rally. Emily Goddin converted the final kill on a 25-16 victory that put the Colonels up 2-1 in the match.
- The fourth set belonged to Greenville as the Panthers snagged the early lead and never looked back, pushing the match to the limit with a 25-17 victory.
- Centre got off to a hot start in the fifth set as they went up 6-1 right away. The Panthers could get no closer than two points the rest of the way as the Colonels sealed the deal with a 15-9 win to take the match.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORES

- Bietz led all players with 13 kills in the win, with Swartz and Isabel Thornton each adding 11.
- Madi Winfield and Emily Gardner combined for 50 assists in the five-setter, with Winfield posting a career high 26.
- The Colonels finished with 91 digs for the night. Madi Barron led all players with 24, with setters Winfield and Gardner adding 15 each.
 
NEXT UP
 
Centre volleyball will play its home opener next as they welcome a tough squad from Transylvania to Alumni Gym on Wednesday.