SCORE
Montevallo 3, Lenoir-Rhyne 0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-23)
RECORDS
Montevallo (2-1)
Lenoir-Rhyne (1-3)
LOCATION
Levine Center (Charlotte, N.C.)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Senior Nicole Holton registered the first double-double of her career with 11 kills and 11 digs while leading the Falcons to the sweep of Lenoir-Rhyne, which participated in the NCAA Division II Tournament a year ago.
Montevallo recorded a .287 attack percentage in the victory, with three Falcons recording double-digit kills. Sophomore Breana Thomas also posted 11 kills, while fellow sophomore Kristy Bohan contributed 10 kills.
An impressive opening set gave the Falcons an early lead in the match with a 25-16 win in the frame. Montevallo went on a 11-3 run midway through the frame while capitalizing on several errors by the Bears.
The second set was a hard-fought 25-23 victory by Montevallo. A kill by senior Rebekah Phelps and a service ace by senior Briana Marquez midway through the frame gave the Falcons a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
The third and final set came down to the wire, with back-to-back kills by Thomas breaking a 23-23 tie and giving the Falcons a 25-23 victory in the set to clinch the match.
STAT OF THE MATCH
Senior Carissa Bell recorded her 1,000th career dig in the 3-0 sweep of the Bears. The reigning co-Libero of the Year in the Peach Belt Conference registered 34 digs in the match, giving her a total of 1,018 career digs three matches into her senior season.
BEYOND THE NUMBERS
Thomas is making the most of the Falcons' season opening trip to the Queens Invitational after sitting out last season. The sophomore registered 23 kills in the first three matches in the event with an average of 2.30 kills per set.
Phelps turned in a solid performance in the 3-0 sweep of the Bears in the shadow of her teammate reaching a career milestone. The senior finished with seven kills to go along with 11 digs and a team-high four service aces.
The Falcons will exit the Queens Invitational with a .500 record or better after the victory over Lenoir-Rhyne. After winning just one match in the event last season, the Falcons already own victories over King and Lenoir-Rhyne in their first three matches of the 2015 season heading into the final match of the event against Mount Olive.
UP NEXT
Montevallo will be back in action next weekend at the University of North Alabama Invitational in Florence, Ala. The Falcons will face Southern Wesleyan in their first match of the event Friday, Sept. 11 at 2 p.m.
