SCORE
Armstrong State 3, Montevallo 2 (25-16, 23-25, 15-25, 25-15, 10-15)
RECORDS
Montevallo (19-11 overall, 10-6 in Peach Belt Conference)
Armstrong State (16-8 overall, 12-4 in Peach Belt Conference)
LOCATION
Trustmark Arena (Montevallo, Ala.)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Armstrong State held off Montevallo in the final set of a five-set match as the Pirates handed the Falcons their first home defeat of the season at Trustmark Arena.
Montevallo opened the match with an impressive 25-16 victory in the first set. The Falcons raced out to a 9-4 lead early in the frame and capped the set with a 6-1 run to clinch the victory. Senior Rebekah Phelps provided back-to-back kills to clinch the frame.
Armstrong State led 10-6 early in the second set before an impressive 9-2 run by the Falcons gave Montevallo a 15-12 lead, with Phelps capping the run with a service ace. The Falcons led 19-16 following an attack error by the Pirates, but Armstrong State closed out the frame with a 9-4 run to tie the match at 1-1 with a 25-23 win in the set.
The Pirates raced out to a 8-4 lead early in the third set before the Falcons went on a 4-0 run to tie the set at 8-8 on a kill by junior Chandler Cooper. The Pirates scored the next four points to take the lead for good in the frame and ended the set with a 6-0 run to clinch a 25-15 victory in the set.
Montevallo rallied to win the fourth set 25-15 and force a deciding fifth set in the match. Armstrong State led 7-3 early in the frame before a 6-0 run by the Falcons, which included a pair of kills from sophomore Kristy Bohan, gave Montevallo a 9-7 advantage. A 10-1 run, featuring a pair of kills from sophomore Breana Thomas, by the Falcons midway through the frame helped Montevallo coast to a 25-15 win in the set.
The Pirates secured a 15-10 win in the fifth and final set to clinch the match. The Falcons led 2-0 early in the set following a pair of errors by Armstrong State. The Pirates scored the next three points to take the lead for good. Montevallo managed to tie the set at 7-7 following a kill by Bohan before Armstrong State ended the frame with a 8-3 run to clinch the set.
STAT OF THE MATCH
The Falcons posted a .556 hitting percentage in the fourth set against the Pirates, marking their best hitting percentage in a single set against Armstrong State since joining the Peach Belt Conference prior to the 2009 season.
BEYOND THE NUMBERS
Montevallo finished the regular season with a 9-1 record at home this season at Trustmark Arena. It is the Falcons' best record at home in a season since 2003, when Myrick Hall served as their home facility.
The Falcons' senior class, which includes Briana Marquez, Carissa Bell, Nicole Holton and Rebekah Phelps, own a 33-11 mark in home matches at Trustmark Arena in their playing careers.
Senior Nicole Holton registered her 11th double-double of the season after posting a team-high 14 kills to go along with 12 digs in the match.
UP NEXT
The Falcons will return to action Saturday, Nov. 13 with a trip to Florence, South Carolina to take on Francis Marion University in a Peach Belt Conference contest. First serve is set for 7 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Central.
