KENOSHA, Wis. - The Centre volleyball team battled the host Carthage Firebirds deep into the night in the first of three weekend tournament contests, but ultimately it was the Colonels who prevailed in four sets.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- The opening set was extremely close throughout, with neither team gaining a lead of more than four points and the score being deadlocked 12 separate times. The last of those ties came at 20-20 before Centre made a strong final push, scoring five of the final six points to take a 25-21 win.
- Carthage maintained a small lead throughout the majority of the second set. The Colonels again made a nice charge at the end, scoring four straight to take a 21-20 lead following an ace from
Rylee Barnes and a kill from
Syd Bietz. This time the home team had the answer and scored the last five to win 25-21 and even the match.
- Trailing 14-13 in the third set, the Colonels made their best run of the young season thus far, firing back with eight consecutive points, capped off by a tandem block from
Elise Grundy and
Elle B Smith. Centre never looked back from there and cruised to a 25-17 win to go up 2-1 in the contest.
- In the fourth set, the Colonels got off to a hot start and led by as many as seven points at 11-4. Carthage slowly chipped away at the lead and eventually tied the score at 23-23. With a potential fifth set looming,
Mia Casi gave Centre the lead with a kill and then teamed with Grundy to block Carthage's final attempt, sealing a 25-23 win and the match.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Colonels had four players with double digit kills. Bietz led the way with 14, followed by
Kendra Christopher with 13, Casi with 11 and
Abby Swartz with 10.
- Centre enjoyed a 57-42 advantage in assists, led by Smith's game high of 49.
-
Emersyn Pannell led all players with 19 digs as Centre got a full team contribution on defense, with
Amery Galan,
Campbell Miles and Bietz all finshing in double figures.
NEXT UP
Centre volleyball will continue tournament action at Carthage with a Saturday doubleheader against Wartburg and Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
