GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Emory & Henry University Volleyball Team (2-6, 0-1 SAC) came out of the gates firing on all cylinders in their South Atlantic Conference opener against Tusculum University (3-5, 1-1 SAC) Tuesday night. Emory & Henry took an early two-set lead, but faltered late as the Wasps fell in five sets by scores of 25-17, 26-24, 22-25, 24-26 and 11-15.
The Basics
RESULTS – Tusculum 3, Emory & Henry 2 (17-25, 24-26, 25-22, 26-24, 15-11 )
LOCATION – Greeneville, Tennessee
VENUE – Pioneer Arena
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (2-6, 0-1 SAC); Tusculum (3-5, 1-1 SAC)
How It Happened
- Tusculum took an early 8-6 lead in the opening set until the Wasps ripped off seven of the next nine points to jump ahead 13-10 and force a TU timeout. A pair of kills from junior outside hitter Grace Duey (Tega Cay, S.C.) and sophomore outside hitter Tori Boling (Tega Cay, S.C.) and a service ace by senior setter Logan Newberry (Glade Spring, Va.) saw E&H push its advantage out to 17-11 and the home team was forced to call their second timeout of the frame. The Wasps reached set point and Boling slammed home a kill to give the visitors from Emory the 1-0 lead.
- The two teams went back and forth to start the second frame and the score stood all level at 13-13 at the midpoint. Three straight points and five of the following seven gave the Wasps some breathing room at 18-15. Tusculum battled back and eventually drew level at 21-21 heading down the stretch. TU reached set point at 24-23, but the Wasps would not go down without a fight as junior middle Haley Harnichar (Sevierville, Tenn.) recorded a kill on an assist from Newberry and a pair of Pioneer errors gave E&H the set win at 26-24 to increase the margin to two sets to none.
- The third stanza was tight from the get-go as the squads jostled for the lead, but could not create separation as the score was knotted on several separate occasions. The Wasps finally created a small gap at 13-10, but once again TU was able to fight and tie things up at 15-15 halfway through the set. The middle stages of the set were played within a two-point margin as Tusculum clung to a narrow 22-21 advantage heading into the deciding points. The Pioneers reached set point once again and were able to finish off the job, taking the win by a 25-22 margin to pull back within a 2-1 scoreline after three frames.
- Tusculum took control early in the fourth set, running out to a 6-1 lead. The Pioneers managed to push their advantage out to as many as six at 13-7 until a quick rally from the Wasps slowly brought them back within shouting distance at 16-14. E&H completed the comeback when senior middle Gracyn Miller (Lilburn, Ga.) sent home a solo block to tie the score at 20-20. The teams traded blows through the latter stages, but back-to-back kills by the home team saw them take the set 26-24 to force a deciding fifth frame.
- The Pioneers began the final set on the front foot as they took the opening four points. The Wasps showed their resilience by winning five of the next seven points, capped off with a service ace from sophomore setter Zoie Pace (Collinsville, Va.) to bring the Wasps back within just one at 6-5. TU held an 8-6 advantage at the changeover in the fifth and the Pioneers continued to increase their lead out to 12-8, forcing an E&H timeout. Tusculum was just too much for the Wasps in the final stanza as they finished off the come-from-behind win, taking the set 15-11 and the match 3-2.
Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
- Boling led the way for Emory & Henry with her first career double-double as she posted a career-high 17 kills, 14 digs, three blocks and a pair of assists. Miller added 11 kills, a match-high seven blocks, three digs, three service aces and two assists. Duey recorded nine kills, 16 digs, one service ace and an assist. Harnichar had seven kills and five blocks while sophomore middle Abigail Leo (Charlotte, N.C.) went for seven kills, six digs and four blocks.
- Newberry registered a double-double of her own with a team-high 22 assists, 10 digs and a service ace. Pace finished with 19 assists, nine digs and a match-high four service aces. Freshman libero Gracy Lasig (Knoxville, Tenn.) had a match-high 22 digs and five assists for the Wasps.
Tusculum Individual Leaders
- Breana Pelbath paced the Pioneers with 17 kills, four blocks and a pair of digs while Mackenzie Land added a double-double of 15 kills and 10 digs. Jordyn Roderick had nine kills, four digs and three blocks for TU.
- Victoria Church registered a match-high 41 assists, 16 digs and two service aces. Taylor Sanders picked up a team-high 21 digs and an assist in the win.
Up Next
- Emory & Henry opens up its 2025 home schedule this Friday when the Wasps host the Cobras of Coker University. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from the John Rutledge King Center.
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