MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Montevallo volleyball team used a series of timely runs and a dominant fifth set to rally past Valdosta State, 3-2, on Friday night at Central State Bank Arena. After dropping back-to-back frames to fall behind 2-1, the Falcons stormed back with a late comeback in the fourth and a commanding start in the fifth to secure their tenth win of the season.
Valdosta State grabbed early momentum with a 5-2 start. The Falcons used a 5-0 run to turn a two-point deficit into a three-point lead at 10-7. Montevallo continued to extend their lead until a late 4-0 surge from the visitors trimmed the lead to 20-18. However, the Falcons closed things out with a kill from
Mallory Hulsey and a block from
Danielle Greene and
Eliza Tyrrell for a 25-20 win.
The Falcons came out firing in the second set, opening 4-0 on a service ace from
Blakeley Robbins and kills from
Mae Mae Beatty and Hanson. VSU responded with an 8-2 run to take control. Despite a brief 3-0 push that brought the Falcons within seven, the Blazers closed it out 25-17 as Montevallo's attack cooled off late.
In the third set, Valdosta State create separation behind a 7-1 stretch after a tight start. The Falcons struggled to slow the Blazers' rhythm, trailing 21-12 after another five-point Valdosta burst. Montevallo answered with a quick 3-0 run behind a kill from McColley and blocks from
Kate Wilkin and Tyrrell, but the Blazers took the set 25-17 and a 2-1 match lead.
Montevallo looked sharp early in the fourth, opening 6-3 on aces from Tyrrell and kills from McColley, Greene, and
Nikol Antova. VSU countered with a 7-2 run to go up 16-13. Down to match point at 24-19, Montevallo mounted its best stretch of the night, scoring the final seven points behind a balanced attack at the net and kills from Tyrrell and Hanson to win 26-24 and force a deciding fifth set.
The deciding set was all Montevallo. The Falcons exploded out to a 7-2 lead thanks to three kills from
Nikol Antova and an ace from
Ava Wind. Another UM run, highlighted by kills from Hanson and
Katie Wilkerson, pushed the margin to 14-5. Tyrrell's final kill ended the match 15-5, completing the comeback for a 3-2 win.
GAME NOTES
