Covenant Volleyball Earns Split In USA South Crossover

  • Saturday, September 18, 2021
After dropping a three-set match to Greensboro to open Saturday's play at the USA South Crossover, the Covenant volleyball team rebounded to sweep William Peace in the day's finale.

The split puts Covenant's record at 5-5 overall.

Kyla Bailey's nine kills and 11 digs led the way for the Scots to sweep William Peace, 25-16, 25-23, 25-18.

Covenant remained undefeated all-time against William Peace at 8-0, though it was the first time the teams had met since a USA South Tournament semifinal in 2017.

It was a season-high nine kills for Bailey as she registered a .278 hitting percentage and added one ace.
Riley Howe tallied eight kills, nine digs, and three aces, while Emma Kalbfleisch hit .636 with seven kills and three blocks. Summer Johnson had 16 assists with six digs and Kayla Youell totaled five kills and five solo blocks.

Anna Baldwin led the way with 14 digs.

Covenant led the entire way in the opening set as the Scots scored the first four points, aided by a pair of Howe aces. The lead stretched to 17-9 on a Johnson ace and the Scots went on a 6-1 run to end the set, capped by a Kalbfleisch kill.

The second set saw seven ties and two lead changes, but Covenant hit .345 in the frame with 12 kills to eke out a 25-23 win. With the score knotted at 22-22, Reagan Keener gave the lead to Covenant for good with her kill and a solo block from Youell opened up a 24-22 advantage. After a William Peace kill, Howe ended the set with a solo block to give the Scots a 2-0 match lead.

The Scots again never trailed in the third set. Covenant held a slim lead midway through the set before a 5-1 spurt gave the Scots a 21-14 lead after a kill from Howe.

Rachel Bartlett added 13 assists for the Scots and Keener finished with four kills in the win. Covenant hit .262 as a group and out-blocked William Peace 10-5.

William Peace (4-6) was led by Kelsey Bierbauer's 11 kills and Logan Moore's 31 assists.

In Saturday's opener, Covenant struggled to get a consistent attack going as the Scots dropped the match to Greensboro in three sets, 25-20, 25-20, 25-22.

It was the second meeting of the year between the two teams. Covenant defeated Greensboro in three sets on Sept. 3 at the Emory Classic.

Kalbfleisch had 12 kills and hit .429 to go along with five digs to lead the Scots. Bartlett had 16 assists and seven digs, while Meriel Chupp had six kills. Baldwin had 13 digs as Johnson totaled 11 digs and eight assists.

Covenant led early in set one, but Greensboro rallied back to take a 16-11 lead and held the lead the rest of the frame to take a 1-0 match lead. In the second set, the Scots again led early as a Kalbfleisch kill made it 7-3. A 7-1 run by Greensboro gave the Pride a 15-10 margin and Covenant would not overcome that.

A reversal in the third saw Greensboro take the early advantage, only to see Covenant roar back. The Scots caught up to the Pride on a Bailey solo block that made it 17-17. The Scots took a 21-20 lead on a Youell solo block and led 22-21 after a Greensboro error. However, the Pride took the final four points to secure the sweep.

Hailey Stout led Greensboro (8-4) with 10 kills and McKenzie Norris added 27 assists.

Covenant opens USA South play on Wednesday at Maryville. Match time is set for 7 p.m.
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