ROCK HILL, S.C. — The second seeded Tusculum University women’s volleyball team was knocked out of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament in the quarterfinal round by No. 7 seed UVA Wise on Tuesday (Nov. 10).
The NCAA Division II selection show airs at 10 p.m. on Sunday, November 15. TU entered the week sitting seventh in the NPI rankings, with the top eight earning a berth.
The Pioneers (18-9) were swept by the Cavaliers (15-13) by scores of 25-20, 26-24, 25-15. This is only the second time this season that TU had been blanked.
Riley Brandon led the match with 17 kills on a .441 hitting percentage. Olivia Amos tallied 36 assists, while Mia Poag and Maggy Sechrist each landed a pair of service aces. Libero Abigail Curtis finished with a match-best 34 digs. At the net, Mable James was credited with five total blocks.
Mackenzie Land led the Pioneers with 13 kills, just ahead of 12 by Addison McLarty. Rounding out the scoring were Maggie Szlachcic (7), Karris Oller (6), Gracie Hibdon (2), and Jordan Moore (2). Hibdon dished out 35 assists, while libero Mary Katherine Hall scooped up 22 digs. At the net, Land accounted for three blocks.
UVA Wise hit .252 as a team with 47 kills and 11 errors on 143 total attempts. Tusculum hit .148 with 42 kills, 19 errors, and 155 total attacks. The Cavaliers led the Pioneers in assists (45-40), service aces (4-0), digs (82-74), and total blocks (8-4).
UVA Wise established control early in the opening set, jumping out to a 4-0 advantage. Tusculum battled back and eventually tied the score at 10-10 before the Cavaliers regained momentum. A strong serving stretch from Mia Poag, including an ace, helped UVA Wise create separation and build an 18-13 lead. The Pioneers made a late push, closing the gap to 22-18, but the Cavaliers finished the set with a 25-20 victory.
The second set featured the most competitive action of the match. Tusculum built an 18-14 advantage behind its attacking attack, led by Mackenzie Land and Karris Oller. UVA Wise gradually chipped away at the deficit, using kills from Riley Brandon, Mia Poag and Mable James to pull even at 21-21. The teams traded points to reach a 24-24 tie, but Serina Petersen delivered a key kill before Brandon recorded the set-clinching point for a 26-24 UVA Wise win.
UVA Wise carried that momentum into the third set, opening with an early lead and gradually pulling away. After Tusculum tied the score at 4-4, the Cavaliers went on a decisive run to establish a 10-6 advantage. UVA Wise continued to extend its lead, eventually moving ahead 20-15. The Cavaliers closed the match in impressive fashion, scoring the final eight points to secure the 25-15 set victory and complete the sweep.
