AIKEN, S.C. – The Montevallo volleyball team wrapped up play at the GSC/PBC Crossover on Saturday, splitting its final day with a five-set win over USC Aiken after dropping a narrow 3-2 battle to Lander.

MATCH INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 2 | Lander 3 (21-25, 25-19, 25-14, 22-25, 7-15)
Records: Montevallo (2-6, 0-0 GSC) | Lander (6-4, 0-0 PBC)
Location: Convocation Center | Aiken, S.C.

The opening frame set the tone with back-and-forth exchanges as neither side could separate early. Midway through, Lander capitalized on a 5-1 run to swing ahead, 18-13. The Falcons responded with a quick 3-0 spurt, fueled by a service ace from Mae Mae Beatty and a block from Maggie McColley, cutting the margin to two. The Bearcats closed on a 4-1 run to halt the rally and take the opener.

Montevallo turned the tables in the second. After an even start, the Falcons strung together a 6-1 run sparked by strong serving from Beatty, including back-to-back aces, to build a 16-10 cushion. Greene and Hanson kept the momentum going with kills from the outside to stretch the lead. Lander trimmed the deficit to four at 21-17, but Montevallo slammed the door with a 4-2 finishing push behind Tyrrell and McColley, knotting the match at 1-1.

The Falcons' best set of the day came in the third, and it was fueled by two massive runs. Montevallo opened strong with a 7–2 surge featuring kills from Greene and Tyrrell alongside steady setting from Blakeley Robbins. After Lander inched back within three, UM responded with an 8-1 run that broke the set wide open at 20-10. The Falcons capped it with a 5-2 close, dominating the set to grab a 2-1 match lead.

Momentum flipped again in a tightly contested fourth frame. Montevallo used a 5-1 run midway through the set, highlighted by kills from Tyrrell and Greene, to take a 17-15 advantage. The Bearcats immediately countered with a 7-2 burst, regaining the edge at 22-19. The Falcons clawed back to within one at 23-22 after a Greene kill and a Hanson block, but Lander strung together the final two points to escape, 25-22, and force a decisive fifth.

The Bearcats opened with a 6-1 run, putting Montevallo on its heels early in the fifth set. Tyrrell stopped the surge with a kill, and the Falcons grabbed two points in a row to cut it to 7-4, but that was as close as they would get. Lander answered with another 5-1 stretch to pull away, eventually sealing the match with a 15-7 final.

MATCH NOTES

• Mae Mae Beatty recorded her first career double double with 15 digs and 10 kills.
• Danielle Greene and Eliza Tyrrell each posted 13 kills to lead the Falcons.
• Montevallo tallied 13 service aces, led by Beatty's four.

MATCH INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 3 | USC Aiken 2 (19-25, 25-23, 25-21, 22-25, 15-12)
Records: Montevallo (3-6, 0-0 GSC) | USC Aiken (5-5, 0-0 PBC)
Location: Convocation Center | Aiken, S.C.

The Falcons traded points with the Pacers early before Aiken created separation midway through the set. Montevallo had 13 kills of its own, led by Danielle Greene with four and Maggie McColley with three, but couldn't overcome a late Aiken surge. The Pacers closed the set on a 6-2 run, handing UM a 25-19 setback.
 
Montevallo answered back in a tightly contested second set that featured nine ties and five lead changes. The Falcons trailed 13-10 but stormed back with a 5-1 run sparked by two kills from Eliza Tyrrell and a block assist from Katie Wilkerson. Greene added four more kills in the frame, and Tyrrell sealed it with a kill down the line at 25-23. UM outhit Aiken .250 to .184 to even the match.
 
The Falcons carried momentum into the third. After a 9-9 tie, Montevallo rattled off a 7-2 stretch behind McColley and Greene, who combined for six kills during the run. Tyrrell added three kills on just four swings, while UM limited the Pacers to .161 hitting percentage. Robbins directed the offense with 10 assists in the set, and the Falcons secured a 25-21 win to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
Aiken regrouped in the fourth, riding its blocking to slow the Falcons' attack. Montevallo kept it close throughout, tying the score at 20-20 after back-to-back kills from Tyrrell and Wilkerson. However, the Pacers responded with a 5-2 closing stretch to force a decisive fifth set.
 
With the match on the line, Montevallo delivered under pressure. The Falcons jumped out to a 7-3 lead behind Tyrrell, who recorded three early kills. Aiken pulled within one at 11-10, but McColley and Greene responded with kills to push the margin back to two. Wilkerson sealed the victory with a late block, and Montevallo closed the set 15-12 to secure the 3-2 match win.

MATCH NOTES

• Danielle Greene paced the Falcons with 16 kills.
• Blakeley Robbins tallied a team-high 32 assists.
• The Falcons hit .316 in the decisive fifth set to secure the win.

UP NEXT: The Falcons begin GSC play on Tuesday night against West Alabama. First serve in Livingston is set for 6:00 p.m.