SCORE

Montevallo 3, King 2 (25-14, 21-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12)

RECORDS

Montevallo (1-1)

King (0-2)

LOCATION

Student Center Complex (Bristol, Tennessee)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Montevallo survived in its second five-set match of the day to defeat host King University 3-2 in the season-opening Invitational.

The Falcons got off to a fast start in the opening set, reeling off five consecutive points on their way to a 25-14 victory in the opening frame. Senior Hannah Christie provided a service ace to help Montevallo capture momentum early. The Falcons led by as many as 12 points down the stretch following a pair of attack errors by the Tornado before senior Chandler Cooper registered the final kill to clinch the set.

King survived in a closely contested second set to tie the match at 1-1 with a 25-21 win in the frame. The Falcons' largest lead came midway through the set when an attack error by King gave Montevallo a 13-10 advantage. The Tornado capped the frame with a 4-0 run and secured the win on an attack error by the Falcons.

King also claimed another hard-fought third set and took a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-23 victory in the frame. The Falcons' largest lead in the frame was once again three points following an attack error by the Tornado, which gave Montevallo a 10-7 lead. King scored five of the final seven points in the set and again clinched the frame on an attack error by the Falcons.

Montevallo fought back to tie the match at 2-2 with a 25-19 win in the fourth set. Back-to-back kills by sophomore Shannon Dudley and junior Kristy Bohan gave the Falcons a 19-14 advantage late in the frame. Montevallo scored the final three points in the frame with a pair of ball-handling errors by King and a kill by Cooper clinching the win for the Falcons.

The Falcons secured their first victory of the 2016 season after taking the fifth set 15-12. Montevallo jumped out to an early lead with a kill by sophomore Brie Blume giving the Falcons a 5-3 advantage. Montevallo led by as many as five points following a kill by sophomore Natalie Twyford, which gave the Falcons a 11-6 lead. Sophomore Simone Maxwell registered the final kill, clinching the fifth set and the match for the Falcons.

STAT OF THE GAME

Montevallo dominated at the net against King, racking up 28 total blocks compared to 16 by the host Tornado. Sophomore Shannon Dudley paced the Falcons with a career-high nine total blocks in the victory.

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Senior Hannah Christie finished with 34 assists to go along with 10 digs against King, recording the ninth double-double of her career and her second of the day.

Senior Chandler Cooper and junior Kristy Bohan contributed a team-high 13 kills each against the Tornado. Bohan also contributed eight digs and six total blocks.

Sophomore Nicolette Fiessinger, one of four Falcons with double figures in digs, recorded a career-best 11 digs.

UP NEXT

Montevallo will face Tusculum College in its third match of the King University Invitational. The Falcons will take on the Pioneers on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 10 a.m. Eastern/9 a.m. Central.