WILMORE, Ky. – The Asbury volleyball team (10-9, 3-4 CCS) battled Collegiate Conference of the South leading Covenant College (18-2, 9-0 CCS) on Friday night in the Luce Center, falling in three sets, 23-25, 25-27, 16-25.
Asbury stayed within striking distance throughout the first two sets, including a tightly contested second frame that featured eight ties and three lead changes. Covenant (18-2, 9-0 CCS) ultimately secured the straight-set victory behind 44 kills and a .231 hitting percentage.
The Eagles fought back late in the opening set after trailing 23-17. A Sara Beth Gray service ace and kills from Aliah Jones helped AU close the gap to 24-23 before Covenant finished the set, 25-23.
Asbury came even closer in the second. After trailing 19-16, the Eagles worked their way back and took a 24-23 advantage on a kill from Isabelle VandeSchraaf. Covenant answered, but Sophie Glushchak extended the set with a kill to tie the score at 25. The Scots responded with the final two points to take the frame, 27-25, and a 2-0 match lead.
AU opened the third set with an early 5-2 advantage before Covenant worked back into the frame. The Scots broke open a 12-12 score with a 7-0 run and went on to close the match with a 25-16 third-set victory.
Julia Wright led the Asbury attack with nine kills on 17 attempts without an attack error, hitting .529. Wright added nine assists, three total blocks and a service ace for a team-high 12 points. VandeSchraaf added seven kills and a match-high 17 digs, while Gray handed out a team-high 16 assists with three service aces and seven digs.
Jones provided a strong presence at the net with five solo blocks and two block assists to go with three kills. Ariana Bluestein added 12 digs, while Abigail Bruner and Glushchak each recorded four kills.
Asbury finished the night with 29 kills, 28 assists, five service aces, 46 digs and eight total blocks.
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Julia Wright | 9 K, .529%, 9 A, 3 BLK, 1 SA
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Isabelle VandeSchraaf | 7 K, 17 D
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Sara Beth Gray | 16 A, 7 D, 3 SA
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Aliah Jones | 3 K, 7 BLK
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Ariana Bluestein | 12 D
The ladies take on LaGrange tomorrow Sat., Oct. 17., at 12 PM in the Luce Center.
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