SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Rollins Tars
volleyball team dropped their opening set, but stormed back in the
remaining three to start the 2008 season with a 3-1 victory over
Missouri Southern State, Friday afternoon at the St. Mary's/Texas
MedClinic Invitational.
Backed behind a 40-assist effort from senior setter Lacey
Malarky, the Tars (1-0) defeated the Lions (0-2) in four sets,
27-25, 25-22 and 25-21 after dropping the first set, 25-5. Junior
transfer Nikki Hartman led both teams with 16 kills, while
senior Stephanie Nichols and sophomore Caitlin
Vyborny each added 11. Freshman libero Phoebe
Corder made her collegiate debut in fine form as she was the
team-leader in digs with 22.
After only scoring five points in the first set, the Tars made
minor adjustments in the rotation to ensure another set would not
be dropped. In the second frame, the teams played an even match
with 13 ties and only two lead changes. Rollins extended its lead
to 17-11, but the Lions roared back to tie the set at 19 and
eventually took a 20-19 lead. Malarky's unassisted attack ended
Rollins' drought. At that point, neither team would get a lead
larger than one, until a Jenny Sherwood kill from Malarky preceded a
Lions' handling error, which resulted in the Tars' 27-25 win.
In the third set, the Tars took the lead at 4-3 after an
attacking error by the Lions' Jenna Feldman and never looked back.
They would eventually extend their lead to six on two occasions
before putting the match away by a Hartman unassisted kill.
The fourth set resembled much of the second as the teams had 11
ties and four lead changes. In the end, the Tars rallied off
three-straight points after a Vyborny kill and two attacking errors
by the Lions to seal the victory for the Tars.
Rollins totaled 47 assists and 67 digs in the contest. Sherwood
recorded the game's only solo block, while Vyborny added two
assisted blocks and Natalie Branche chipped in with one.
Nichols registered the only double-double in the match with 12
blocks and the previously mentioned 11 kills. Senior Tori
Ratcliffe was the other player with double-digit digs with
10.
The Lions were led by its setter Sara Joles and her 30 assists.
Outside hitter Ashlee Russell was their kill leader with 13, while
middle Amelia Judge added 11.
The Tars have now won the last five season openers and improve to
16-13 in opening tournaments since 2000.
The Tars return to the St. Mary's/Texas MedClinic Invitational
against host, St Mary's, Friday at 7 p.m. Live stats and
broadcasting can be accessed by going to www.RollinsSports.com.
