LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The Montevallo volleyball team went toe-to-toe with West Alabama in Tuesday night's Gulf South Conference opener, ultimately falling 3-2 in a back-and-forth match at Pruitt Hall.

MATCH INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 2 | West Alabama 3 (21-25, 25-22, 25-20, 24-26, 13-15)
Records: Montevallo (3-7, 0-1 GSC) | West Alabama (5-3, 1-0 GSC)
Location: Pruitt Hall | Livingston, Ala.

Montevallo opened the night trading points with UWA, but a 6-2 Tiger run put the Falcons in chase mode. Kills from Danielle Greene and Mallory Hulsey pulled Montevallo within one at 20-19, but UWA closed strong with five of the final seven points.

The Falcons bounced back with poise in the second. After falling behind 13-10, Montevallo responded with a 7-2 run capped by back-to-back kills from Nikol Antova. Greene and Eliza Tyrrell powered the attack as the Falcons hit .231, while the defense held UWA in check. A late kill from Ellise Hanson sealed the 25-22 win, evening the match.

Momentum stayed with Montevallo as the Falcons stormed out to a 9–3 lead. Hulsey and Antova took control at the net, combining for seven kills in the frame. UWA made a brief push to cut the deficit to 18-16, but Montevallo answered with a 4-0 run and never looked back to take the set 25-20.

The most dramatic set of the night saw Montevallo nearly clinch the match. Down 18-14, the Falcons roared back with a 7-2 surge fueled by Tyrrell's serving run and a pair of Greene kills to take a 21-20 lead. The Falcons reached match point at 24-23, but UWA rattled off three straight points to escape 26-24.

The decisive frame featured 11 ties and five lead changes. UM jumped ahead 9–7 after a Greene kill, but UWA countered with a 4-1 stretch to reclaim momentum. A Hulsey swing leveled it at 13-13, but the Tigers closed with two straight points to win 15-13.

MATCH NOTES

• Danielle Greene continued her strong 2025 campaign, posting 12 kills and a career-high 10.0 blocks on the night.
• Eliza Tyrrell tallied a career-high eight service aces.
• UM outblocked the Tigers 12-8.

UP NEXT: Montevallo begins the home slate with a matchup against Trevecca Nazarene on Friday night. First serve at Central State Bank Arena is set for 6:00 p.m.