AUGUSTA, Ga. – The University of Montevallo volleyball team swept host GRU Augusta 3-0 to capture its first Peach Belt Conference victory of the season before taking down Pfeiffer University 3-0 in non-conference action Sept. 14.
The Falcons swept the Jaguars in three sets, 25-12, 25-20, 25-23. Montevallo finished the match with a .276 attack percentage, including a .379 attack percentage in the opening set and a .367 attack percentage in the second set.
Senior Manyi Ati led the Falcons (5-2 overall, 1-1 in Peach Belt Conference) with 13 kills in the victory. Ati, who finished with a .407 attack percentage, added 14 digs as she posted her third double-double of the season.
Sophomore Rebekah Phelps added seven kills. Junior Katie Best chipped in six kills, while senior Michelle Carle contributed five kills.
Senior Kaleigh Harvey led the Falcons with 16 digs in the win. Sophomore Briana Marquez finished with a team-high 29 assists.
The Falcons stormed out to a 25-12 win in the opening set. Montevallo had little trouble with the Jaguars, ending the set with a 12-4 run, capped with a kill by Carle to close out the set.
Montevallo stormed out to a 21-12 lead in the second set before the Jaguars closed the gap with a 8-3 run. However, Phelps slammed home a kill to capture the set for the Falcons, 25-20.
Montevallo began the third set with a 6-0 run, fueled by a pair of kills from Ati. The Jaguars battled down the stretch before kills by Carle, Best and Phelps at the end of the set clinched the match for the Falcons.
Montevallo closed out the sweep with a 3-0 win over Pfeiffer later in the afternoon. The Falcons, who finished with a .360 attack percentage, defeated Pfeiffer 25-21, 25-14, 25-15 in the match.
Ati led Montevallo with 11 kills and posted a .476 attack percentage in the victory.
Carle added nine kills, while sophomore Anna Quinn finished with seven kills to go along with 10 digs. Phelps chipped in six kills.
Harvey led Montevallo with 18 digs. Marquez, who contributed a team-high 29 assists, finished with 12 digs.
The Falcons took the opening set against Pfeiffer, 25-21. Montevallo closed out the set with a 7-3 run, sparked with a kill each from Ati and Quinn.
Montevallo captured the second set against Pfeiffer, 25-14. The Falcons stormed out to a commanding 20-12 lead in the set, with Carle providing four of her nine kills in the match to help Montevallo clinch the frame.
The Falcons closed out the match with a 25-15 win in the third set. Montevallo clinched the match with a 8-2 run to end the set, with Carle closing out the victory with a kill.
The Falcons will return to action Tuesday, Sept. 17 with their first home match in Peach Belt Conference play against Columbus State University. Montevallo is facing the Cougars for the first time in more than three decades after Columbus State reinstated its women's volleyball program for the first time since the 1982 season.
First serve in the match is set for 6 p.m. The Falcons will honor University of Montevallo faculty and staff members who have made an impact on their career before the match as part of Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night at Trustmark Arena.
