SCORE

Montevallo 3, Tusculum 2 (17-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-16, 15-11)

RECORDS

Montevallo (2-1)

Tusculum (2-1)

LOCATION

Student Center Complex (Bristol, Tennessee)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Montevallo outlasted Tusculum for a 3-2 victory in its third consecutive five-set match in the season-opening King University Invitational.

The Falcons got off to a slow start as Tusculum took the opening set 25-17. The Pioneers went on a 7-0 run to end the frame, fueled with four consecutive service aces by Melissa Mazur, and capped the set with a kill by Kaily Weiss.

Montevallo bounced back to pick up a 25-20 win over Tusculum in the second set. The Falcons used a 8-0 run midway through the frame, fueled with three kills by junior Kristy Bohan and two kills by senior Chandler Cooper, to build a 18-13 lead. Bohan capped a 3-0 run with a kill to end the frame and clinch the set for the Falcons.

Tusculum turned a tightly-contested third set into a 25-20 win with a 14-9 run to end the frame. A kill by Bohan tied the set at 12-12 before a 8-2 run by the Pioneers helped Tusculum take a 2-1 lead in the match.

The Falcons tied the match at 2-2 with a 25-16 win in the fourth set. Montevallo went on a 12-3 run midway through the frame, which included a pair of service aces by sophomore Brie Blume, and took a 19-10 advantage following a setting error by the Pioneers. Junior Jamesia Edmond provided the final kill to clinch the set for the Falcons.

Montevallo clinched the match with a 15-11 win in the fifth set. A kill by Bohan gave the Falcons a 11-7 lead before in the frame back-to-back errors by Tusculum sealed the victory for Montevallo.

STAT OF THE GAME

The Falcons registered a season-high 96 digs in the five-set match, 24 more than Montevallo recorded in its previous high of 72 digs in its most recent match against King.

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Senior Hannah Christie registered her third consecutive double-double to start the season against Tusculum with a season-high 39 assists to go along with 10 digs. The double-double marked the 10th of Christie's career.

Junior Grace Harris recorded a career-high 27 digs against the Pioneers.

Sophomore Brie Blume registered a career-best 22 digs in the win over Tusculum.

UP NEXT

Montevallo will face Shorter University in its final match of the King University Invitational. The Falcons will take on the Hawks later this afternoon at 3 p.m. Eastern/2 p.m. Central.