Score: Meredith 3, Pfeiffer 0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-22)
RALEIGH, N.C. – Caitlyn Russell drove home a match-high 18 kills (.415 attack percentage), while
Delaney Lowery added eight, to help Meredith make quick work of Pfeiffer (25-14, 25-13, 25-22) in USA South Conference volleyball action at Weatherspoon Gym on Thursday evening.
Russell, who topped double-digit kills for the 10th time this season, led a Meredith unit that tallied 43 kills and a .295 attack percentage.
Megan Murray notched 19 digs for the back row, while
Daven Brabble closed with two solo blocks for the Avenging Angels.
FIRST SET: The Meredith offense came out firing on all cylinders, delivering 12 kills and a .310 attack percentage in the opening frame. The Angels broke a four-all deadlock with a slam from
Delaney Lowery, before assuming a 10-7 lead with a service ace off the hand of
Lillie Davis. Pfeiffer used a 5-2 rally to pull even at 12, but it was three service aces from
Maddie Aveline and four unforced errors that resulted in a 7-0 run by the Angels. The trio of Brabble, Russell and Lowery came through with timely kills down the stretch to secure the 11-point win.
SECOND SET: The Angels tallied 15 of their 25 points via kills in the second set, enjoying a .400 attack percentage. Meredith used the momentum from the close of the first set in the early stages of the second, grabbing a 7-1 lead along the way. Leading 12-6, following a Russell slam, the Angels surrendered just three points in a nine-point stretch, including a pair of kills by Kresho, to forge in front 18-9. Meredith took advantage of kills from Lower,
Emily Haas and Russell in succession to assume the 2-0 advantage.
THIRD SET: Meredith capped off the match with 16 kills in the third and decisive set. Pfeiffer put up a fight in the opening stages of the third, assuming a 5-3 lead. However, Russell penetrated the Falcons' defense with four kills in a nine-point stretch, giving Meredith the 14-7 lead. Pfeiffer would eventually trim that margin to four, 17-13, but Russell again had three kills to give the Avenging Angels a 23-17 cushion. After a late run by Pfeiffer, Karaleigh Dobson closed out the sweep on Davis' 33rd assist of the match.
