MONTREAT, N.C. – Junior outside hitter Brittany Tepedino collected a team-high 13 kills to lead the Converse (1-8) volleyball team to its first win of the season, sweeping Montreat (4-8) in straight sets on Tuesday evening. The Valkyries had to play extra in two of three sets, but were able to secure the win with scores of 25-20, 26-24, and 27-25.
GAME INFORMATION
Scores: Converse 3, Montreat 0
Records: Converse (1-8), Montreat (4-8)
Location: McAlister Gymnasium, Montreat, N.C.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Elizabeth Yohe anchored the defense with 11 digs.
- Lottie Hutson and Lauren Tharrington fed the attack game with 13 and 12 assists, respectively.
- Elizabeth Coffey and Kiara Cannon each produced four kills.
- Haley Horton led Montreat with 10 kills
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
With the score knotted at 3-3, Converse took control of the set after reeling off seven of the next nine points, establishing a 10-5 lead. Montreat trimmed the deficit to 12-8, but a kill by Tepedino fueled a 5-1 burst, capped off by a smash from Coffey, giving the Vals the comfortable 17-9 lead late in the opening frame.
The Cavaliers did not back down, closing the gap to 18-15. Yohe put a stop to that run and helped Converse build back out to 24-18 lead. Montreat took two points in a row, but Tepedino closed the door with a massive kill to end the set.
Second Set
Montreat came out strong in set two, building a 10-6 advantage during the onset. However, Converse, following a kill from Kiersten Christmas, battled back to even the set at 11-all. From that point the frame would see seven ties and four lead changes.
The Cavaliers looked poised to even the match at one set apiece after going up 24-22 late in the set following a service error by the Valkyries. However, an attack error by MC and another clutch kill from Tepedino deadlocked the score at 24-24. A bad set by Montreat's Katie James, followed by a Yohe service ace, completed the Vals comeback, giving Converse the commanding 2-0 match lead.
Third Set
A Cat Jumper kill gave Converse a 10-8 lead in set three. That advantage quickly ballooned to 16-10 after a Sydney Allen service ace. Montreat, fighting to push the game to a fourth set, mounted a comeback by taking 14 of 22 points, including staving off four match points, to knot the frame at 24.
After an exchange of the next two points, Converse put an end to the set and match by collecting the final two points, completing the sweep.
Up Next
The Valkyries will return to action on Friday, September 20, traveling to Aiken, S.C. to take part in the Pacer Invitational, hosted by USC-Aiken. Converse will play Valdosta St. at 12 p.m. before taking on UNC Pembroke at 5 p.m.