SCORE
Montevallo 3, USC Aiken 1 (15-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-19)
RECORDS
Montevallo (10-6 overall, 3-1 in Peach Belt Conference)
USC Aiken (9-3 overall, 2-3 in Peach Belt Conference)
LOCATION
Trustmark Arena (Montevallo, Ala.)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Falcons overcame a slow start in the opening set and took care of business in the next three to clinch a 3-1 win over USC Aiken in Peach Belt Conference play.
The Pacers capped the opening set with a 7-1 run on their way to a 25-15 win in the frame. A service ace by Carissa Bell gave Montevallo a 4-3 lead early in the frame, but it was the Falcons' only lead in the set.
Montevallo opened the second set with a quick 3-0 spurt, which included back-to-back kills by senior Rebekah Phelps, and never trailed in the frame. A kill by senior Nicole Holton capped the Falcons' 25-19 victory in the set.
The Falcons opened the third set with an even more impressive 6-1 run after three early attack errors by USC Aiken on their way to another 25-19 win. Montevallo never trailed in the frame with Phelps providing four kills down the stretch in the victory.
Montevallo clinched the match with a 25-19 win in the fourth set. The Falcons opened the frame with a 9-3 run, capped with a service ace by Phelps, and held off a late rally by the Pacers to close out the match.
STAT OF THE MATCH
After posting a meager .088 attack percentage in their 25-15 setback in the opening frame, the Falcons responded with a .387 hitting percentage in their 25-19 win in the second set.
BEYOND THE NUMBERS
Phelps registered her fourth double-double of the season after racking up a team-high 18 kills to go along with 14 digs.
Senior Briana Marquez nearly posted her sixth double-double of the year after recording a team-high 40 assists to go along with nine digs. It marked the third time this season Marquez has finished one dig shy of a double-double.
Sophomore Kristy Bohan contributed 11 kills in the victory, marking the 11th time this season she's finished with double-digit kills.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Katie O'Brien
"I think they're a tall blocking team and we were a little bit surprised to see some hands in front where we were hitting. In fact, they only got one block, so I told the hitters turn it up and take of business, and that's what they did."
"(Briana) is a great setter and we need her to stay on so our offense is on. She's really hustling for some balls and putting it all out there for her senior year."
"(Rebekah and sophomore Breana Thomas) are up there for two out of the three rotations, so they're definitely working together. Becky, almost every other ball she hit was a kill, and that was huge. It's hard to stop her."
"I would love to continue playing like this, back-to-back. That's the one thing, we can enjoy this for tonight, but tomorrow we have to be business because we have two matches."
UP NEXT
Montevallo continues its Peach Belt Conference home stand Saturday, Oct. 3 with a Peach Belt Conference contest against Lander University at Trustmark Arena. First serve is set for 12 p.m. The Falcons will face Stillman College in a non-conference match at 5 p.m.
