MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo volleyball team defeated USC Aiken 3-1 in a Peach Belt Conference match Nov. 8 at Trustmark Arena.
The Falcons took the first set against the Pacers 25-23 before dropping the second set 25-23. Montevallo secured the match with a 25-19 win in the third set and a 25-22 victory in the fourth set.
Senior Manyi Ati led the Falcons (16-9 overall, 9-6 in Peach Belt Conference) with 13 kills in the victory. Ati finished just shy of a double-double with nine digs.
Fellow senior Michelle Carle added 11 kills, while sophomore Rebekah Phelps chipped in 10 kills. Junior Katie Best finished with seven kills.
Sophomore Briana Marquez recorded a team-high 20 assists to go along with nine digs, while freshman Hannah Christie chipped in 18 assists and nine digs.
Senior Kaleigh Harvey led the Falcons with 19 digs in the victory.
The Falcons overcame a 4-0 deficit early in the opening set to pick up a 25-23 win in the frame. Carle and Marquez registered a kill each late in the set to give Montevallo a 1-0 lead in the match.
Following a 25-23 win by the Pacers in the second set, Montevallo opened the third set with a 4-1 run fueled by a kill from Best. The Falcons closed the third set with a 5-2 run, capped with a service ace by Phelps to secure the set for Montevallo.
The Falcons jumped out to a 20-12 lead in the fourth set following a kill by Best. Montevallo held off a rally by the Pacers and closed out the 25-22 victory with a kill by Carle.
Montevallo will return to action Saturday, Nov. 9 with a pair of matches. The Falcons will face Lander University in a Peach Belt Conference match at 12:30 p.m. before taking on Clark Atlanta University in a non-conference match at 4:30 p.m.
Three Montevallo players will be playing their final regular season home contests Saturday wearing the Purple and Gold.
The 2013 senior class, featuring Kaleigh Harvey, Manyi Ati and Michelle Carle, has celebrated more than 65 victories during their collegiate careers and also helped the Falcons capture their first victory in the NCAA Division II Tournament while leading the University of Montevallo to its second appearance in program history in 2010.
The trio will be recognized before the start of the match against Lander at 12:30 p.m.
