Volleyball Falls at First Day of Milligan Mountain Madness

MILLIGAN, Tenn.- The volleyball team went on the road to play in the two-day, four-match Milligan Mountain Madness. The first day of the event took place on Friday, with the team facing the University of Rio Grande Red Storm and the Blue Mountain Christian University Toppers.

Match 1: vs. Rio Grande

The offense was not able to find a rhythm early in the first set, falling in the first set 25-12. The team found a closer pace in the second set, falling in a close set 25-18. The team used the momentum from the second set to win the third set 25-20 but fell in the fourth set 25-18 to fall in the match 3-1.

Olivia Miller led the offense with seven kills.

Match 2: vs. Blue Mountain Christian

TWU held the lead in the first set for a majority of the time. Savannah Jones made the score 2-0 with her kill while Alley Hibdon made the score 6-3 later in the set. After a kill by Shante Smith made the score 16-15, the opponents went on a run which helped them win the first set 25-20.

The second set saw Blue Mountain eventually run out to a lead, holding an 18-12 advantage deep in the set. TWU was able to battle back and tie the score 20-20 but the opponents scored the next five points to win the second set 25-20.

In the third set, Olivia Bolin put the set in a 3-3 tie. The team was not able to turn the lead in their favor though, going on to eventually fall in the set by a score of 25-16 to fall in the match 3-0.

Smith led the offense with seven kills.

The team concludes the Milligan Mountain Madness on Saturday with matches against Point University (10:00 a.m.) and Shawnee State University (2:30 p.m.).