The St. Andrews University Knights Volleyball team showed why they were voted towards the top of the Appalachian Athletic Conference at the beginning of the season after working through a three quick sets Friday evening against the Bryan College Lions.
Two very slow starts for Bryan in the first two sets proved costly as St. Andrews owned the opening set 25-5, followed by a 25-14 final in set two, and edged out the Lions in a close third set 25-22 to complete the sweep. Bryan fell to 2-11 overall and 1-2 in conference play, while St.
Andrews improved their overall record to 5-4 and AAC record to 2-1.
The Knights charged ahead for 10-1 advantage in set one and never looked back. Kills by Veronica Salas, Jessica Towe, Emalie Hicks, and an attack error by St. Andrews would be the only scores for the Lions as the home team compiled a staggering .600 attack percentage with 16 kills for a first set score of 25-5.
Kristen Parrish connected with Mariah Dunlop for a kill and the first point of the second set. Unfortunately, St. Andrews rallied for eight unanswered points, providing the Knights with a comfortable 8-1 lead. A kill by Janie Smith and an attack error by St. Andrews brought Bryan within four points at 9-5, but the Knights slowly grew the deficit back to seven points at 18-11. Only three more points would be surrendered to the Lions as St. Andrews claimed a 2-0 lead with the second set going their way 25-14.
As the third and final set began, Bryan put the distasteful start behind them and showed patience. The Lion’s focus was apparent as they saw their only set with a positive attack percentage and collected fewer errors than the Knights. Eight ties throughout the set showed each side’s desire in owning the lead. An attack error by St. Andrews allowed Bryan to go in front 8-7, but the Knights were able to construct one of their runs that they had fashioned numerous times in the contest. Instead of the 4-0 swing knocking the Lions off their game, Bryan remained poised and leveled the score late at 18-18. St. Andrews tallied the next two points for a 20-18 edge, but Bryan countered with a pair of scores to even it 20-20. The Knights connected for a kill next possession, and Dunlop answered back with a kill of her own. The next three plays would end the hopes of the Lions as they committed an attack error and surrendered two back-to-back kills. The last point for Bryan came when Salas set up Hope Burnett for the put-away as one last error by the Lions handed the Knights the closing set 25-22 and the match 3-0.
St. Andrews outkilled Bryan 41-18 and ended with a .220 attack percentage compared to the Lion’s -0.024. Burnett led Bryan’s attack with seven kills and a .238 average, Brooke Stowell slid in with three and Towe, Dunlop, and Hicks had two kills apiece. Salas had 15 of the Lion’s 17 total assists and also set atop the dig’s column with 18 trailed by Parrish’s 14.
Bryan remains on the road as they continue AAC play at Milligan College (Tenn.) on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 6:30pm. The Buffaloes have gotten the best of the Lions in their past three meetings, so look for Bryan to respond in the conference showdown.