SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Converse volleyball was edged by Erskine in five sets on Friday evening inside Hannah Gymnasium. The contest marked the Conference Carolinas opener for both squads.
GAME INFORMATION
Scores: Erskine 3, Converse 2 Records: Erskine (6-9, 1-0 CC), Converse (3-12, 0-1 CC)
Location: Hannah Gymnasium, Spartanburg, S.C.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Kiara Cannon led the Valkyries with a season-high 11 kills on the night while hiting .391.3
- Brittany Tepedino continued her stellar play, recording double-digit kills (10) for the seventh time on the season.
- Elizabeth Yohe collected a team-high 27 digs, while Lauren Tharrington tossed 23 assists.
- Yohe and Tepedino each had three service aces.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Erskine scored four the first six points to open the contest, but Converse battled back with three in a row to take its first lead at 4-3. From that point the opening set was back-and-forth as the two teams raced out to an 11-11 tie.
However, with the score deadlocked, Converse seized control of the set with six consecutive points, taking a 17-11 lead late in the frame. Erskine was able to trim the deficit to 19-17, but Cannon sparked a pivotal 6-2 run to end the set and give Converse a 1-0 match lead.
Second Set
After the two teams traded the first four points, Erskine ripped off a massive 15-3 burst to push out to a double-digit lead (17-5). Converse could not gain much traction the remainder of the set, dropping the frame 25-11.
Third Set
The beginning of set three was all Converse as the Valkyries raced out to a comfortable 12-3 lead early. However, the Fleet did not go away, running off nine in a row to knot the set at 12-all. After four consecutive ties and the score at 16-16, Converse took control of the set with an 8-0 run, capped off by a monstrous kill by Jasmine Finkley.
Erskine fought off one set point, but an attack error from the Fleet's Kayla Duncan gave Converse the 2-1 match lead.
Fourth Set
Erskine took the opening point of the fourth set and never looked back, tying the match at 2-2 with a dominant 25-12 win, sending the contest to the decisive fifth set.
Fifth Set
The two teams came out firing back-and-forth in an effort to gain an advantage in the final set of the match. After the Flying Fleet went up 10-8 late in the frame, Converse came back with three points in a row, capped off by a service ace from Sara Grace Westmoreland and kill from Tepedino.
However, that would be the last point the Valkyries won as Erskine finished the set on a crucial 5-0 run to take the match by the final of 3-2.
UP NEXT
Converse will return to the court tomorrow afternoon as it hosts Emmanuel (Ga.) at the Weisiger Center. First serve for that contest is scheduled for 2 p.m.