COLUMBUS, Ga. – The University of Montevallo volleyball team defeated Mars Hill University and Erskine College by identical scores of 3-1 in a pair of non-conference matches Sept. 13 on the Columbus State University campus in the Cougar Invitational.
The Falcons defeated Mars Hill 25-11, 25-27, 25-17, 25-17 in a match that featured a delay in the fourth set due to moisture on the floor of the Lumpkin Center, forcing the match to eventually move to the Student Recreation Center.
Montevallo closed out the afternoon with a 23-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-18 win over Erskine.
Junior Rebekah Phelps led the Falcons (5-4) with 17 kills on 29 attacks in the first match of the day against Mars Hill, posting an impressive .483 hitting percentage in the victory.
Phelps was named the Cougar Invitational co-Most Valuable Player along with Haley Rhyne of Lenoir-Rhyne. Senior Katie Best was named to the All-Tournament team.
Sophomore Chandler Cooper and freshman Kristy Bohan, who finished with a .400 hitting percentage, added 11 kills each. Senior Sarah Guidry contributed 10 kills to go along with 15 digs as she posted her second double-double of the season.
Junior Carissa Bell posted a career-high 28 digs in the win, with fellow junior Nicole Holton registering 16 digs.
Junior Briana Marquez recorded a season-high 52 assists, just three assists shy of her career high, while also posting 12 digs as she registered her fourth double-double of the season.
Best paced the Falcons with 15 kills on 24 swings against Erskine, recording an astounding .625 hitting percentage in the win.
Cooper added 13 kills, while Guidry contributed 11 kills and 12 digs in the victory as she posted her third double-double of the year and her second of the afternoon.
Bell contributed a team-high 20 digs, while Phelps finished with 13 digs and Holton compiled 12 digs.
Marquez provided a team-high 31 assists in the victory.
The Falcons will return to action next weekend with a trip to the Northeast before entering the heart of Peach Belt Conference play.
Montevallo will face Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire on Friday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. Eastern/5 p.m. Centeral.
The Falcons will travel to Waltham, Massachusetts on Saturday, Sept. 20 to face host Bentley University at 12 p.m. Eastern/11 a.m. Central. Montevallo will take on Georgian Court University in a neutral site match later in the afternoon at 3 p.m. Eastern/2 p.m. Central.
