MONTEVALLO, Ala. – University of Montevallo sophomore Chandler Cooper led the Falcons with nine kills in a 3-0 setback against nationally-ranked Armstrong State University in a Peach Belt Conference match Oct. 24.
The Falcons fell in three sets, 25-17, 26-24, 25-22, to the Pirates, who are ranked No. 17 nationally in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NCAA Division II poll. Armstrong State remained undefeated in conference play while improving to 20-1 overall on the season.
Cooper paced the Falcons (15-8 overall, 7-4 in Peach Belt Conference) as he finished with a .444 hitting percentage in the match.
Freshman Kristy Bohan added eight kills and junior Rebekah Phelps chipped in six kills to go along with 10 digs. Seniors Katie Best, who registered a team-high six blocks, and Sarah Guidry added five kills each.
Junior Briana Marquez, who chipped in three kills, recorded her 11th double-double of the season with a team-high 31 assists to go along with 12 digs.
Junior Carissa Bell led the Falcons with 17 digs in the match.
The Pirates opened the match with a 4-1 run, capped with a kill by Emily Wylie, and closed out the first set with a 8-4 run to secure a 25-17 win in the opening frame.
The two teams were locked in a tight battle throughout the majority of the second set, with neither team leading by more than three points during the entire set. Wylie broke a 24-24 tie late in the frame with a kill and helped the Pirates clinch a 26-24 win in the second set.
Bohan recorded a pair of kills to begin the third set as the Falcons jumped out to a commanding 11-5 lead, but the Pirates stormed back with a 11-5 run of their own in the middle of the frame to tie the set at 16-16. Armstrong State ended the third set with a 9-6 run and captured a 25-22 win in the frame following a match-clinching kill by Rachel Thompson.
Stephanie Sfara led the Pirates with 16 kills in the match.
The Falcons will return to action Saturday, Oct. 25 with a pair of matches.
Montevallo will host Flagler College in a Peach Belt Conference match at 12 p.m. at Trustmark Arena. The Falcons will be honoring the life of former assistant coach Erin Heffner Ventress as part of its Dig Lavender match supporting research for a cure for rare cancers.
The Falcons will take on the University of West Georgia in a non-conference match at 5 p.m.
