Volleyball pulls off thrilling five set win over St. Andrews
LAURINBURG, N.C. (Sept. 28, 2021) – After dropping the first two sets, the Point University volleyball team battled back to win the third and fourth sets, sending the match into a deciding fifth set, where the Skyhawks would complete the comeback and defeat St. Andrews Tuesday night on the road.
With Tuesday's win, the Skyhawks advance to 7-8 and 4-3 in Appalachian Athletic Conference play. The Knights fall to 4-15 (4-3 AAC).
Set-by-set (14-25, 19-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-11)
St. Andrews opened the match on a 7-1 run and continued their dominant efforts during the set duration, winning 25-14 and taking an early 1-0 lead. The Knights finished the first set with a .212 hitting percentage, compared to Point, who had a -.077.
In the second set, the Skyhawks started strong, tying the score 4-4 off back-to-back kills from Sarah Baucham and Te'a Owens, but that was as close as SAU would allow Point, as the Knights went on an 8-2 run, jumping ahead by six. Point threatened St. Andrews' lead with a 4-0 run to bring the score within two, but the Knights extended their lead back out and won the second set 25-19.
Leading 18-13, St. Andrews was poised to finish the match in three sets before an SAU attack error, followed by a kill from Whitney Ward, sparked a Point run, and the Skyhawks would score eight of the following 10 points to take the lead 23-20. The Knights would bring the score within two twice in the final points of the set, but back-to-back kills from Kelsey Turner would give Point the final two points they needed to win 25-22 and send the match into a fourth set.
Point carried its momentum over to the fourth set, as the Skyhawks worked their way out to a six-point lead, but the Knights would battle back, going on a 9-3 to tie it 16-16. Point would regain a two-point lead before four consecutive Skyhawk errors would help St. Andrews take the lead 21-18. Point, however, did not falter, as the Skyhawks closed the set out on a 7-1 run to win 25-22 and send the match into a deciding fifth set.
Once again, the Skyhawks started with all the momentum, taking a quick 5-1 lead. Similar to the second set, St. Andrews battled back and took the lead 10-9 from an 8-2 run. Point would only allow the Knights to score one more point in the match, as the Skyhawks closed the set out on a 6-1 run, beginning with three consecutive kills from Ward, who ended the game with her 14th kill of the night to help the Skyhawks to a 15-11 victory.
In the box
Three Skyhawks recorded double-doubles on the night. Kaitlyn Hawke led the way with a game-high of 31 assists and 26 digs. Owens followed with a game-high of 17 kills and 14 digs, and Ward followed with 14 kills and 15 digs. Audrey Blaschke and Madison Bentley contributed to Point's defensive efforts with 16 and 10 digs, respectively. Abby Solomon helped anchor Point's offense with 16 assists and Turned recorded 11 kills in offensive efforts.
Up next
The Skyhawks will return home for two matches. The first match will be on Friday, Oct. 1, against the reigning AAC regular-season champions, Bryan, at 6:30 p.m., before hosting Tennessee Wesleyan on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 11 a.m. Both matches are part of Point's Homecoming Weekend.