Anna Metzler serving earlier this season. She was out of the lineup due to an ankle injury Tuesday night, but should return Friday night.
Dalton State 25 11 13 25 7 = 3
Reinhardt University 22 25 25 16 15 = 2
Waleska, GA.
– Playing without the services of an injured Anna Metlzer Tuesday night, Dalton State played valiantly, but fell in five sets to Reinhardt University (25-22, 11-25, 13-25, 25-16, 7-15).
“We had to change a lot of things and it kind of messed up the rotation,” Roadrunner Coach Bruna Langner said after the match. “We had very good moments,” she added. “In the sets that we won we played very well, but in the sets that we lost we didn’t play so well.”
Metzler injured her ankle running off the court following the October 4th win at Bethel University. “She’s good for Friday,” said Langner. Meanwhile, her teammates got some real game experience playing without her in a non-conference contest.
Dalton setter Michala Askew and Reinhardt’s Sam Croce each had 39 assists. Askew added 10 digs for DS while Croce had 11 for RU.
Dalton’s Alyne Bianchi had 14 kills and nine digs, Wendy Perez added 13 Ks. Kianna Delaney had eight kills and five digs. Savannah Nelson had seven kills.
Rachel Croce and Ally Hurd each had 13 Reinhardt kills.
The first set was close all of the way with the Lady Roadrunners pulling away for the 25-22 win.
The next two sets were pretty much all Reinhardt. The Lady Eagles broke open at 4-4 tie in the second set by scoring seven straight points. Reinhardt went on to win the game, 25-11.
Reinhardt (12-7 overall, 7-3 AAC) scored the first five points of the third set and ran out to an 11-3 lead. The Lady Eagles then went on to win, 25-13.
The Lady Roadrunners tied the match at two sets each by winning the fourth set. Dalton State broke open a 9-9 tie by going on an 11-1 run. It was Dalton’s turn to never look back, taking the 25-16 win.
Reinhardt led all of the way in the tie-breaker, winning the set (15-7) and the match, 3-2.
Dalton State (9-7 overall, 5-4 SSAC) returns home to Bandy Gymnasium/Coach O Court for two Southern States Athletic Conference matches this weekend. They host Loyola of New Orleans Friday at 5:00 p.m. and the University of Mobile Saturday at 1:00 p.m.