NEED TO KNOW:
Match 1 Score: Meredith 3, Sewanee 2
Match 2 Score: Maryville 3, Meredith 0
Record: Meredith, 7-1
RALEIGH, N.C. - Meredith volleyball won a five-set thriller over Sewanee to begin the Raleigh Invitational on Friday at the Weatherspoon Athletic Center.
The Avenging Angels had to close out the first match of the tournament in the fifth set after the Tigers rallied back, but came through clutch in the big moments to win seven matches in a row to start the season. While Maryville took the second match of the day, Meredith still sits at 7-1 through the season's first eight matches.
Match 1: Meredith 3, Sewanee 2
Taking on its first of two SAA opponents on the day, the Avenging Angels raced out to a fast start, taking a hard-fought first set before dominating the second set with a 25-18 win to put them one win away from another three-set sweep.
However, the Tigers responded by running out to a 17-9 advantage in the third set. Meredith answered back, however, cutting into the deficit, but it was a little too late as the Tigers closed out the set to extend the match.
The fourth set was all Sewanee, which rolled to a decisive fourth set victory.
Meredith was undeterred in the fifth set though, hitting a match-best .381 with nine kills against just one error. Although Sewanee won the first three points of the set, the Avenging Angels bounced back with six straight points to take control. Sewanee tied the score at 11 apiece but Meredith had the last laugh, winning four of the final five points to clinch the match on a kill from
Daven Brabble.
It was a balanced effort offensively from Meredith, led by
Caitlyn Russell (13 kills) and
Elena Bostick (12 kills). Brabble had a huge all-around performance, adding nine kills to go with a .412 hitting percentage, three services aces and two block assists.
Megan Murray continued her strong senior season, recording a team-high 24 digs to lead the way.
Match 2: Maryville 3, Meredith 0
Meredith started strong against Maryville in the evening match, winning the first six points out of the gate to force a timeout. However, from there, the Scots flipped the script, winning 10 of the next 11 points to jump ahead in the first set and take it, 25-17.
Maryville pulled off a comeback in the second set as well to take control of the match before putting it away in the third.
Russell led the team with nine kills while
Reagan Kresho, Bostick and Brabble had four apiece.
Murray added 18 digs, giving her over 40 on the day.
Up next, the Avenging Angels will play two more matches tomorrow in the Raleigh Invitational, taking on LaGrange in the morning at 10 a.m. before concluding the event against JWU (NC) at 4 p.m.
TURNING POINT:
- Meredith saved its best for last in match one, outlasting Sewanee by winning four of the final five points to clinch the match and a 7-0 start to the season.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Brabble sealed the Sewanee match with a kill and also added nine total kills on an over .400 hitting percentage as well.
- Murray totaled 42 digs over the two matches.
NEWS AND NOTES:
- Meredith's seven straight wins to start the season marks the most since it started the 2016 season with eight in a row.
