AUSTIN, Tx. - The Shenandoah University volleyball team competed in the second day of the Austin College/University of Dallas Tournament on Saturday afternoon. In the first match of the afternoon, Nebraska Wesleyan defeated SU, 3-0, as Austin College downed SU by the same score to close out the tournament.
MATCH ONE RECAP
The Prairie Wolves (3-0) defeated the Hornets (1-2) in three sets (25-22, 25-11, 25-14).
The first set was tightly contested as the teams exchanged the lead three times in the early going.
Kylie Danella opened the match with a service ace to put the Hornets up 1-0 and a block by Ava Panullo and
Brooke Gast helped give SU a 5-3 advantage. NWU quickly responded with a 4-0 run, which turned into a 9-2 run, helping them pull ahead.
The Hornets didn't back down and came right back with a run of their own.
Amber Shifflett and
Hannah Hylton each gained a kill during the run, helping their squad come within one point. Despite multiple comeback attempts in the first set, Nebraska Wesleyan controlled the lead and took the frame, 25-22.
In the second set, first-year Vanessa Rodriquez had two service aces on back-to-back serves.
Hannah Hylton added another ace for SU later in the set. Shenandoah ended the match with eight total aces.
Shenandoah took advantage of three NWU errors in the early moments of the third set, as SU went ahead 5-3. Nebraska Wesleyan quickly recovered however and ended the set and match on a 22-9 run.
Hylton led the Hornets in kills during the match while Danella and
Autumn Stroop led the team in assists and digs, respectively.
MATCH TWO RECAP
The Hornets (1-3) fell to the 'Roos (3-1) in three sets (14-25, 13-25, 15-25).
Shenandoah had five different players with kills in the first set.
Brooke Gast,
Hannah Hylton, and
Regan Minney each had two kills in the first, including Gast's first putting the Hornets up early.
The second set had SU trailing 2-0 but back-to-back kills assisted in the team gaining a 3-2 lead. After the 'Roos tied the set on the next rally,
Kylie Danella set up Minney for the kill, giving the Hornets another lead.
Ashlynn Spence and
Ashlyn Wade provided four more kills as the Hornets continued to lead.
With SU leading 8-7, AC rallied for six consecutive points to gain control of the lead and the set. The 6-0 run helped swing the momentum back into the 'Roos corner as they never relinquished the lead for the final two sets.
Minney led the Hornets with six kills.
Zandria Burton and
Danica Duncan each provided a block for SU and
Kylie Danella had a team-high 10 assists.
UP NEXT
The Hornets host their own tournament next weekend on Friday and Saturday. SU opens play at 3:30 p.m. on Friday against Brooklyn College.
#GoSUHornets
Â
