LEXINGTON, Ky. – Fresh off making their season debut in the AVCA top 25, no. 20 Centre volleyball made the quick trip up US 27 to face the Transylvania Pioneers in their annual rivalry matchup. The Colonels remained unbeaten on the year, improving to 7-0 after knocking off the Pioneers in four sets.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- Centre got off to a molten start in the opening set, scoring eight of the first nine points. The Colonels extended their lead to 14-2 after a 6-0 run and cruised from there, winning 25-13 after a tandem block from
Elle B Smith and
Mack Turner for the final point of the frame.
- The second set saw both teams trading the lead throughout, with neither squad able to gain much of an advantage. Centre forced a set point at 24-23 on a kill from
Kendra Christopher, but Transylvania would score the next three to take the win 26-24 and even the match.
- Transylvania carried the momentum from their second set win into the third as they held a small lead for a majority of the set. Trailing 18-15, Centre responded with five straight points to take the lead and never looked back, scoring the last three points in a 25-20 win, with Christopher delivering the closing kill.
- In the fourth set, both teams relied on big runs to keep the game close. Centre scored five straight points to go up 15-10 before Transylvania scored four in a row to cut it to one, followed by four straight from the Colonels to regain their cushion. That last run proved to be the back breaker as Centre never trailed again, winning 25-18 with the match clinching point coming on another tandem block by Turner and Smith.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Syd Bietz led all players in kills as she finished with a season high 19, followed by
Mia Casi with 13 and Christopher with 11.
- Smith set a new season high with 51 assists, the first time she has crossed the 50-assist mark in a game this season and 12 more than the Pioneers had as a team on the evening.
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Campbell Miles had her second consecutive game with 20 or more digs, finishing with 22 to lead the Colonels, with Smith, Bietz and
Amery Galan all finishing in double figures.
NEXT UP
The Colonels will play their first home games of the season on the weekend, beginning with a matchup against Berea on Sept. 18.
