DANVILLE, Ky. – Centre volleyball began the home portion of its 2024 with a tri-match, hosting Sewanee in the Southern Athletic Association opener as well as Berea. The Colonels improved to 8-2 on the season as they beat Sewanee 3-0 and Berea 3-1.
 
Game 1: Centre 3, Sewanee 0
 
- The Colonels began the opening set with high energy, jumping out to a quick 10-4 lead against their conference foe. The Tigers could get no closer than three the rest of the way as Centre ended it with a 10-2 run, winning it 25-13 after kills by Emily Gardner and Ally Knueven.
- In the second set, the Colonels gradually pulled away after the midway point, taking command and eventually winning by a score of 25-18 as Syd Bietz put home the clinching kill.
- The third set played out in a similar way as the first as Centre utilized a 7-1 run to take control after the first few points.  The Tigers never got close again as Centre led by five or more points until the end, securing the 25-19 victory with a Mack Turner kill.
 
Game 2: Centre 3, Berea 1
 
- Centre got off to a rough start in the opening set, allowing the Mountaineers to score the first four points. The Colonels tied the score on eight different occasions without getting over the hump, finally taking the lead. Ultimately it was Berea who got the win as they broke a 23-23 tie with the final two points to take a 25-23 win.
- The Colonels regrouped in a huge way over each of the next three sets. In the second set, Centre jumped out to a 9-2 lead from the onset. That lead quickly reached double digits and the Colonels never looked back on their way to a 25-10 victory.
- In the third set, Centre used an early 7-0 run to overcome a deficit and never relinquished the lead from there, cruising to a 25-17 victory to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
- Centre dominated the fourth set, scoring the first six points and eventually leading by as many as 16 at 20-4. Emily Howell and Riley Snowden delivered the clinchers in a 25-13 win to complete the Saturday sweep for the Colonels.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORES
 
- Bietz and Turner led all players with a dozen kills each against the Tigers. First-year Delia Long had a career high 15 kills against Berea, followed by Bietz with 14.
- Centre averaged 14 assists per set against Sewanee, led by Gardner with 31. Gardner continued her double digit assists per set pace with 44 against the Mountaineers.
- The Colonels limited Sewanee to a -.023 hitting percentage, good for Centre's lowest percentage allowed this season. The Centre defense also held Berea to a .008 hitting percentage.
- June Padilla finished with a game high 18 digs against Berea.
 
NEXT UP
 
The Colonels will travel to Georgia for tournament action next weekend as they head to Berry to face no. 5 Emory and Covenant.