Skyhawks overcome slow start to defeat Milligan in five-set battle
WEST POINT, Ga. (Oct. 30, 2021) – After dropping the first two sets, the Point University volleyball team came back from behind, winning the final three sets, to beat Milligan University Saturday inside West Point Park Gymnasium.
Milligan won 25-20 in both the first and second sets, and the Skyhawks won 25-16, 25-15, 15-11 to close the match.
Set-by-set
Milligan opened the first set on a 6-1 run and held the lead until Point tied the set at 12 and took a one-point lead after a kill from Whitney Ward. Milligan would answer by scoring the following four points, retaking the lead and holding onto it for the remainder of the set.
The Buffaloes would come out with a dominating start once again in the second set, jumping ahead 6-1. The Skyhawks would rally back, bringing the set within one (9-8) from a kill by Sarah Baucham, but that was as close as Point would get as Milligan extended its lead back out. The Skyhawks threatened Milligan's lead once again as the Buffs led 23-15, Point went on a 6-0 run, but back-to-back kills from the Buffs would give Milligan the victory in set two.
With their backs against the wall, Point came out on a 7-1 run in the third set. Point's run consisted of four kills and two aces. Point's momentum continued throughout the set, as the Skyhawks extended their lead out by as many as 10. Point had 14 kills in the third set and had a .243 hitting percentage.
Like the third set, Point had the momentum to start and took a 7-3 lead. Point never allowed Milligan to take the lead as the Skyhawks went on to even the set 2-2 and send it into the deciding fifth set. The Skyhawks recorded 15 kills in the fourth set.
In the fifth and final set, Point did not let off the gas, and Milligan returned with similar energy as the Skyhawks took the first lead of the game, but the Buffaloes responded and went ahead 7-5. Tied 9-9, a kill by Sameily Marquez kickstarted a 6-2 run that would send the Skyhawks on their way to a comeback victory. A kill from Kaitlyn Hawke and an error by Milligan sealed the 15-11 win.
In the box
Three Skyhawks had career-highs in Saturday's match. Te'a Owens led Point's defense with a career-high of 29 digs and tacked on 11 kills. Marquez had a career-high of 12 kills and Abby Solomon matched her career-high she set in Friday night's match of 26 assists. Kaitlyn Hawke recorded a double-double with 26 assists and 15 digs, Sarah Baucham led Point's offense with 13 kills and Audrey Blaschke and Whitney Ward rounded out Point's defense with 17 and 16 digs, respectively. Mollie Goen led the team with five blocks.
"We started off a little slow today," head coach Faith Pearson said. "We worked out our mistakes in the first two sets and came with fire in the third and fourth sets and fought hard in the fifth. It was a very exciting game from start to finish and I could not be more proud of the girls. They have had to overcome many challenges this season and today, they stepped up to a huge challenge. We needed this win and they earned it. We've got one more regular-season game until the conference tournament and we are ready to continue fighting."
Saturday's match concluded Point's home portion of the regular-season schedule. The victory put the Skyhawks at 13-14 overall and 10-9 in the AAC.
Point's final conference game of the regular season will be on Tuesday, Nov. 2, as the Skyhawks travel to Brenau University. Game time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.