Volleyball takes their first sweep at the Faulkner Invitational but fall short in the other three matches
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Sept. 2, 2023) - The Point University Volleyball team traveled to Montgomery, Alabama, for the two-day 23rd annual Faulkner Invitational, where they faced off against Columbia International and Tennessee Wesleyan on Day One, then took the court against Southeastern University and Reinhardt University on Day Two. Point took the sweep against Tennessee Wesleyan but would fall short in their other three matches.
Day One: Point vs. CIU: 3-0 (25-13, 25-15, 25-23, Loss)
The Skyhawks started the Faulkner Invitational against the powerhouse of Columbia International, where the Rams started the first set on a hot streak on a 14-2 run before Ava Clay and Sameily Marquez put a halt to CIU's run. The quick start in the first set proved to carry the Rams as CIU remained unfazed to take the first set with a 25-13 win. The second set saw the Rams jump in front with an early 7-2 lead before the Skyhawks tacked on three scores from Sameily Marquez, Tianna Kynard, and an attack error from CIU. The Rams responded with three scores of their own to extend the lead. Point continued to compete as Aaliyah Lobendahn scored three of the five points for the Skyhawks, with the other two being errors from CIU. After the two kills from Jadakate Judkins, the Rams went on a 10-2 run to extend their lead to 23-13. Ava Clay and Sameily Marquez added two scores for the Skyhawks, but the Rams would close it out with a final score of 25-15. The third set proved significant for Point as the Skyhawks jumped out to a 4-1 early lead. CIU remained calm by responding with the following three scores to trail by one. Still, the offensive attack of Tianna Kynard, Sameily Marquez, and Aaliyah Lobendahn helped the Skyhawks extend their lead. The set continued to go in Point's favor as the momentum kept them ahead with 21-16 as the score, but the Rams went on a 5-0 run to tie it 21. The scores started going back and forth, with Point giving it their all, but the Rams would prevail for the sweep.
Day One: Point vs. Tennessee Wesleyan: 3-0 (25-22, 27-25, 25-17, Win)
The Bulldogs jumped ahead with a 5-2 lead on Point, but the Skyhawks shook off the rust and added five consecutive scores to take the lead by one. The first set continued to go back and forth as Aaliyah Lobendahn and Sameily Marquez helped lead offensively for Point. The Bulldogs did not back down from Point as Tennessee Wesleyan took the lead at 18-17. The Skyhawks added the following two scores as the Bulldogs had an attack error followed by the service ace from Claire Cordell. Point continued to get the upper hand as the fiery offense from Jadakate Judkins and Aaliyah Lobendahn helped finish the first set with a 25-22 win. The second set was a duplicate of the first one, with both teams not letting the lead slip too far away with many lead changes. With the Bulldogs leading 12-9, Paige Lowe assisted Jadakate Judkins, Claire Cordell, and Aaliyah Lobendahn on the following three scores to tie it at 12. Tennessee Wesleyan jumped back ahead with a three-point lead, but the offensive errors helped the Skyhawks gain the lead and edge past TWU with a 27-25 final score. The third set saw both teams trading scores, tied at seven, and then the switch flipped for the Skyhawks as they went on a 10-2 run to lead 17-10. The offensive attack of the Skyhawks proved to be too much for the Bulldogs to make a comeback, as Point defeated Tennessee Wesleyan 25-17.
Day Two: Point vs. Southeastern: (25-15, 25-18, 25-15, Loss)
The Skyhawks returned to the court for Day two of the invitational against the Southeastern Fire. Both teams were neck and neck to start the set, but the 5-0 run from the Fire helped extend their lead to 15-7. The Skyhawks looked to strike a run as they added the following few scores and would trail 19-14. Southeastern would finish the first set in dominating fashion on a 6-1 run to win 25-15. The second set proved to see improvement from the Skyhawks. Still, Southeastern continued to ride the momentum by going on multiple runs, which included taking their most significant lead with a 21-11 score. Point showed no quit as they cut their deficit down, but the Fire escaped the second off a service error for the 25-18 win. Southeastern's fire continued to play in their favor by starting the third set with a score of 11-2. The Skyhawks added to their score as Sameily Marquez and Ava Clay looked to wake the offense of Point up. Southeastern gathered their focus and pushed their lead further to end the set in a 25-15 win to get the sweep.
Day Two: Point vs. Reinhardt: (25-12, 25-19, 25-19, 25-20, Loss)
Reinhardt started the first set with a plan as they led 16-4. Kills from Tianna Kynard Sameily Marquez and an attack error from the Eagles saw the Skyhawks cut their deficit to nine. Reinhardt's quick start neutralized Point for the 25-12 win in the first set. Point did not let the first distract their mind as the Skyhawks went toe to toe with the Eagles by trading scores until the Eagles led 18-16. Five attack errors from the Eagles helped spark a run for the Skyhawks, contributing to kills from Claire Cordell and Paige Lowe and a service ace from Sameily Marquez to lead 24-18. The service error from Reinhardt helped take the final score to win the second set. The third set saw both teams looking to empty the tank and try to gain momentum, with the score being tied at nine. The Eagles gained the upper hand by going on an 8-1 run to lead 18-10. Point continued to compete as Jadakate Judkins lit up the gym for a kill, followed by two consecutive service aces from Claire Cordell. The Eagles did not let Point gain another inch as the offense elevated for the 25-19 win in the third set. The fourth set saw both teams trading leads again, with Sameily Marquez adding two kills back to back. Reinhardt added the following four scores to extend their lead until Jadakate Judkins and Claire Cordell contributed to the following two points from the Skyhawks as they trailed 11-9. Reinhardt added four consecutive scores to move their lead further before the Skyhawks brought it back to a three-point game. Two service errors from Point and kills by the Eagles helped them edge the Skyhawks to win the match in four sets.
History made over the weekend
Paige Lowe came into the Faulkner Invitational, sitting at 992 career assists. Lowe would surpass 1,000 career assists in the fourth match of the season and now continues to add to her historic career as she is in her sophomore year at Point. Paige Lowe now sits at 1,107 career assists and will continue to make her case as the best setter in Point history.
Up Next
The Volleyball team will return to action as they open conference play for the first time in the Southern States on Friday, September 8, when they take on Brewton-Parker College at the West Point Gymnasium starting at 7:00 P.M.