WISE, Va. — The Tusculum University women’s volleyball team earned its first sweep of the season on Tuesday (Sept. 30) night, taking down the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.
The Pioneers (4-7, 2-3 SAC) thumped the Cavaliers (7-7, 2-4 SAC) by scores of 25-19, 25-17, 25-21.
Mia Bradley led UVA Wise with seven kills with eight teammates recording at least one strike. Riley Brandon led the setters with 13 assists, joined by Madilyn Pardue’s 10. Four Cavaliers landed a service ace: Bradley, Serina Petersen, Mia Poag, and Brandon. Libero Abigail Curtis finished with a team-best 11 digs in the loss. At the net, both Braelynn Williams and August Betz were credited with three total blocks.
Five Pioneers racked up multiple kills in the three-set victory: Mackenzie Land (11), Grace VanZwieten (10), Jaida Alvin (7), Karris Oller (7), and Isabella Bianchin (5). Both VanZwieten and Bianchin recorded career-best performances. Victoria Church recorded her second collegiate double-double with 30 assists and 15 digs. Taylor Sanders also reached double digit digs with 10. Oller, Church, and Mia Wave-Nelson tallied the Pioneer aces, while Bianchin had a hand in four rejections.
UVA Wise hit .053 as a team with 32 kills and 26 errors on 113 total attempts. Tusculum hit .236 with 40 kills, 15 errors, and 106 total attacks. The Cavaliers led the match in service aces (4-3) and blocks (9-6), while the Pioneers tallied more assists (36-27) and digs (49-39).
The opener featured five ties and two lead changes. Tusculum got out to a 2-0 advantage before UVA Wise went on a four-point spurt. The teams stayed within three points until the home team got out to a 10-7 edge. Oller and VanZwieten landed kills for TU as the set was tied at 10-all. Down 11-10, the Pioneers went on a 7-0 run, including three blocks in which Bianchin took part. The Cavaliers were able to get back into a four-score range, but the lead was too great.
Tusculum led the second set from start to finish, keyed off by a 4-0 run to begin the frame. TU landed 16 kills on the offensive side of the ball. Down 12-5, UVA Wise rattled off four-straight to narrow the gap. The Pioneers responded with kills by Oller and VanZwieten. Up 18-14, Tusculum went on a 4-0 spurt with kills by Oller and Land, a block by Oller, and Wave-Nelson’s ace. VanZwieten and Oller finished off the set to put the Pioneers up 2-0 in the match.
TU once again got the early set lead behind kills from VanZwieten and Land. UVA Wise swung the momentum back into its favor by winning the next three scores. The teams battled it out to a 7-7 tie before Tusculum took the lead for good behind a four-point run. Down 16-11, the Cavaliers made a run and closed the margin to two. The home team looked to extend the match down 23-21, but consecutive attack errors earned Tusculum the straight-set victory.
Tusculum continues this week’s road trip with a jaunt to Coker on Friday (Oct. 3) night. First serve between the Pioneers and Cobras is set for 7 p.m.
