COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Bluefield University women's volleyball team earned its first Appalachian Athletic Conference victory of the season with a straight-set win over Columbia College Friday evening at the Godbold Center.
The Rams took the match 25-14, 25-13, 25-15 to improve to 4-9 overall and 1-6 in AAC play, while Columbia fell to 2-11 and 0-6 in conference action.
Set 1
After falling behind 5-2 early in the opening frame, the Rams battled back and pulled even at 9-9 behind a kill from senior middle hitter Ella Gawellek and a service ace from sophomore defensive specialist Sienna Vitelli. Bluefield continued the run with kills from Gawellek, senior outside hitter Chesed Russell and senior outside hitter Morgan Wigg to grab a 15-9 advantage. The Rams maintained control from there before junior right side Scarlett Hulse recorded two late service aces and sophomore outside hitter Faith Alsup closed out the set with a kill, 25-14.Â
Set 2
Bluefield carried the momentum into the second frame, scoring eight of the first nine points to take an 8-1 lead. Alsup recorded a pair of kills during the opening run, while Wigg added a service ace. The Rams later used a 6-0 swing to extend their advantage to 20-9 behind a kill from graduate setter Izabella Lechuga and Russell. Bluefield finished the set with four of the final five points as Alsup notched three kills down the stretch to give the Rams a 2-0 match lead, 25-13.
Set 3
The Rams wasted little time taking control of the final frame, racing out to an 8-0 advantage. Wigg recorded three kills during the run, Alsup added another, and sophomore defensive specialist Laura Rudin served a pair of aces. Columbia trimmed the deficit to six, 13-7, before Bluefield regained control with kills from Russell, Gawellek, Wigg and Alsup. Hulse helped put the match away with three late service aces as the Rams completed the sweep with a 25-15 victory.
Match Stats
Alsup led all players with 13 kills while hitting .269. Wigg turned in an efficient performance with eight kills on 10 attacks without an error for a .800 hitting percentage, while Russell added six kills and Gawellek finished with five kills while hitting .500. Hulse recorded a match-high six service aces, while Vitelli and Rudin each added two. Sophomore setter Kylee Sturgill led the Rams with 20 assists, Lechuga added 13 and Vitelli paced the defense with 12 digs.
As a team, Bluefield hit .311 with 37 kills and 13 service aces while holding Columbia to a -.078 hitting percentage. The Rams were especially efficient over the final two sets, hitting .550 in the second and .400 in the third.
The Rams return to the Dome Gymnasium Friday at 6:30 p.m. when they host Brenau University in AAC action.
