WINTER PARK, Fla. –
Senior outside hitter Stephanie Nichols recorded a team-high 11
kills and freshman libero Phoebe
Corder tallied a match-best 21 digs en route to a Rollins
volleyball victory over the Montevallo Flacons, 3-0 (25-23, 26-24,
25-18) in a nonconference match at the Courtyard by Marriott VSU
Crossover Invitational.
The Tars (13-5) continued its impressive defense display by holding
the Falcons under .200 in attacking percentage (.198). Freshman
middle Lora Lieb took part in six blocks, five assisted
and one solo. Nichols followed Corder's 21 digs with 12 of her own
to record the double-double.
Offensively, the Tars had a trio of hitters blast seven kills,
juniors Natalie Branche and Nikki
Hartman, along with Lieb. Senior Lacey
Malarky was the match-high with 31 assists and had five kills
of her own.
In the opening set, the Tars and Falcon were neck-and-neck most of
the frame as the teams were tied at 12. The Tars capitalized on
the ensuing service error from the Falcon's Lauren Tortorici with
back-to-back kills from Branche and Hartman. After Malarky
assisted Branche on another kill, the Tars took a three-point
advantage at 16-12. Rollins extended its lead to five at 20-15,
when Malarky tallied one of her three service aces. Rollins
continued to lead by five at 24-19, but a rally from Montevallo cut
the deficit to one at 24-23, but an attack from the Falcon's Katy
Handrick sailed out of bounds to clinch the Tars' victory.
Leading 1-0 in the match, the Tars would play the comeback role as
it fell behind late in the second frame. Rollins built a two-point
lead on a few occasions, but at 15-13 the Falcons made its run
taking a 23-20 lead. Branche cut Montevallo's lead to two after a
quick set from Malarky resulted in the kill from Branche. The
Falcons responded with a kill of its own from Handrick to own a
set-point at 24-21. Appearing to lose the second set, Rollins
mounted a valiant comeback leaning on the freshman Lieb for a
clutch kill. Down two, Malarky sparked the team with a service
ace, which preceded another Lieb kill. Hartman captured the
victory as she found the line from another Malarky assist.
The third stanza proved much easier for the Tars as they took a
six-point lead at 16-10. The Falcons would not go away that easy
as they scored four out of the next five points to trail by three.
After exchanging the points, the Tars made it run to close out the
match, 25-18.
The Falcons were lead by Handrick's 11 kills, while Monika
Tortorici had nine. Anna Garrison lead the team with 18 assists,
while Joy Peschman filled in with 16.
The Tars return action to wrap up the invitational against West
Georgia, Saturday at 2 p.m.
