Point Volleyball’s season ended at the AAC Tournament

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (Nov. 10, 2022) - The Point University volleyball team returned to the court for the AAC Tournament at the MeadowView Marriott Convention Center against Union College and fell in a sweep. 

Play by Play (25-18, 25-20, 25-23) 

Both teams traded scores back to back until Point found their rhythm by responding to a kill from the Bulldogs. With the Skyhawks ahead by one, Sameily Marquez helped kick off a 6-0 run for Point as they extended their lead to seven. Union showed signs of life as they scored the next three points off two kills and an attack error from Point. Paige Lowe and Kelsey Turner returned the favor by taking the next two scores for the Skyhawks to now lead 16-10. Union turned the momentum on their side as they flipped the switch to go on a 12-0 run with a mixture of kills, blocks, and attack errors from the Skyhawks. Abigail Hardwick ended the Bulldogs' run with a kill to now have the Skyhawks trailing 22-17. Emily Shumaker from Union retaliated with a kill of her own, and the offense of the Bulldogs helped them get the final two scores of the set while only allowing one more point from the Skyhawks. 

The Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 3-1 lead until Abigail Hardwick gave Point their second score of the set. Three attack errors from Union and a kill from Sameily Marquez put the Skyhawks ahead 6-4. Raquel Kessler provided instant offense for the Bulldogs with a kill, and a miscue from Point put the game tied at six. With both opponents trying to find their rhythm in the set, the Bulldogs notched a 6-1 run to put them ahead 15-11. Sarah Baucham ended Union's run with a kill, but a service error gave the Bulldogs the next score. The Skyhawks continued to find their way to knock at Union's lead as Sameily Marquez tallied another for Point, which was followed by the fiery attack by Abigail Hardwick. With Point now trailing 19-16, two errors on their side gave the Bulldogs the next two scores. The Skyhawks put together three kills in a row, but Raquel Kessler for Union halted any chance of a comeback as she scored the final point of the set. 

The third set started off as a duplicate of the first set, with both teams trading scores. With Union ahead by one, Abigail Hardwick took the leap for the kill to tie the game at seven. An attack from the Bulldogs put the Skyhawks in the lead, but Union countered their miscue with two kills to jump back ahead. Paige Lowe set up Sarah Baucham for the response to bring it back to tie. Union's offense continued to stay consistent as they took the next three scores to now lead 12-9. Point answered the bell on matching the Bulldogs' intensity which started with a kill from Mackenzie Littrell to help start a 6-2 run. With the score now tied at 15, Union's defense took a step ahead with the block. Sameily Marquez did not let Union's lead last for long as she sprang for the kill to tie it at 16. This set continued with both teams going back to back on kills until Union took a two-point lead. Abigail Hardwick made her moment by attacking the Bulldogs with two kills in a row to bring it back to another tie game. Union's offense took the next three scores with kills and was followed by a bad set from Point to go on a quick 4-0 run. Mackenzie Littrell struck back with a kill which was followed by three attack errors from Union to tie it at 23. After the timeout from the Bulldogs, Union finished the set with two kills in a row to end the match in a sweep. 

Resulting of the loss, Point's 2022 season has wrapped up going 13-16 on the season.  

In the box 

Sameily Marquez led with a double-double of 11 kills and 12 digs. Abigail Hardwick followed eight kills for the Skyhawks. Paige Lowe dished out 30 assists and added eight digs. Jordan Palmer led with 12 digs.