HUNTSVILLE, ALA. — The Tusculum women’s volleyball team nearly pulled off a come from behind victory on Saturday (Sept.), but dropped a five-set decision to Emmanuel in the UAH Invitational finale.
Tusculum (2-6) could not complete the comeback attempt against Emmanuel (3-4), falling in five sets by scores of 26-24, 17-25, 19-25, 27-25, 8-15.
Emmanuel’s Ellie Jackson finished with a match-best 19 kills on a .326 hitting percentage, followed by 11 kills from Jocelyn Martin and 10 by Alaina Emminger. Sami Gambill and Morgan Brice did the setting for the Lions, recording 26 and 19 assists, respectively. Layla Bland landed four service aces, ahead of Amore Marshall’s trio. Defensively, Asia Queens added a match-high 19 digs, while Jackson contributed 16. At the net, Cailin Pritchard assisted in five blocks.
Both Addison McLarty and Martina Foster registered 14 kills in the loss, as the latter hit nearly .300. Olivia Crowl (8), McKayla Willey (8), Whitney Thompson (7), and Madison Adkins (5) were responsible for the remaining kills. Adkins also distributed 42 assists and landed a career-best seven aces. The aces total ties her for the second-most in a five-setter and ninth overall. Taylor Sanders and Jordyn Anderson led the TU back row with 18 and 10 digs, respectively. The setter Adkins was credited with four block assists in her stat sheet-stuffing day.
Emmanuel hit .312 as a team with 64 kills and 15 errors on 157 total attempts. Tusculum hit .209 with 56 kills, 22 errors, and 163 total attacks. The Lions led the match in assists (59-54) and total blocks (7-5), while the Pioneers recorded more service aces (13-12) and digs (67-66). The aces total is tied for sixth-most as a team in a five-set match.
Tusculum begins conference play on Tuesday (Sept. 17) at Coker, the final contest of the nine-match season-opening road trip. First serve between the Pioneers and Cobras is scheduled for 7 p.m.
