LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of Montevallo volleyball team opened up the 2019 University of West Alabama Tournament with a 3-1 win over Southern Arkansas.
After a slow start that saw the Falcons drop the first set 15-25 to the Muleriders, Montevallo fought their way back into the match. 
Montevallo topped Southern Arkansas in dominant fashion, 25-10, during the second set.
Montevallo went on to win the final to matches, 25-19 and 25-15 to take a 3-1 match victory over the Muleriders.
The Falcons improved to 6-4 on the season following the win.
 
 
Match Information

Score: Montevallo 3, Southern Arkansas (15-25, 25-10, 25-19, 25-15)
Records: Montevallo (6-4 overall) | Southern Arkansas (2-7 overall)
Location: Pruitt Hall (Livingston, AL)

GAME NOTES
 

• Evelina Teran led the Falcons offensive attack with 16 kills in the match.
• Savannah Roys was the Falcons' leader in assists with 33 in the win over Southern Arkansas.

• Brioni Dixon chipped in 10 kills while Desiree Rodriguez and Danielle added 6 and 7, respectively.
• Skylar Sieber recorded a team-high 18 digs in the win.
• Dixon also led the Falcons on the defensive end with five total blocks.
• Hannah Fernandez registered four service aces in the 3-1 win.
• The Falcons edged the Muleriders in every statistical category throughout the match.
• Montevallo totaled eight service aces in the match, compared to just four by Southern Arkansas.
• Offensively, the Falcons totaled 44 kills in the match while the Muleriders registered just 35.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Set 1

• Southern Arkansas controlled the first set early, jumping out to a 9-1 lead.
• The Muleriders controlled the match the rest of the way, defeating the Falcons 25-15.

 Set 2

• Montevallo responded in the second set, jumping out to a 5-0 lead following an attack error by Southern Arkansas.
• Five consecutive errors by the Muleriders gave the Falcons a 12-3 lead midway through the set.
• Following a few points from Southern Arkansas, the Falcons responded with a seven-point run, capped by a Danielle Lee kill, to lead 21-7.
• The Falcons took the second set 25-10 following an error by the Muleriders.

Set 3

• Southern Arkansas took control of the third set early, 2-0.
• The Falcons the lead 3-2 over the Muleriders following a kill from Lee.
• After trading points, Southern Arkansas jumped out to 8-5 lead over the Falcons.
• Down 14-8 to the Muleriders, the Falcons responded with a five-point run, cutting the deficit to 13-15.
• Montevallo took the lead 16-15 following a service ace from Hannah Fernandez.
• After trading points again, Montevallo responded with three straight points to take a 20-17 lead following a Southern Arkansas error.
• A service ace by Savannah Roys put the set away for the Falcons 25-19, giving the Falcons a 2-1 lead in the match.

Set 4

• Montevallo controlled the fourth set early, jumping out to a 6-2 lead following a service ace from Liz Tisch.
• Southern Arkansas responded with an eight-point run to take a 10-6 lead in the set.
• The Falcons re-gained the lead, 16-14, following a three-point run, capped by a kill from Teran.
• Montevallo closed out the set on a nine-point run to win 25-15.

Match Notes: After dropping the first set to the Muleriders, the Falcons won three straight sets to win the match 3-1.
UP NEXT
Montevallo will return to action on day two of the West Alabama Tournament on Saturday, September 21^st with a pair of matches. The Falcons will face former Peach Belt Conference foe, Augusta University at 11:30 a.m. and tournament host, West Alabama at 4:30 p.m. in Livingston, Alabama.