CARROLLTON, Ga. -
The Rollins volleyball team opened the 2009 season with
victories over Valdosta State and Albany State, Friday afternoon at
the University of West Georgia Classic.
The Tars cruised past the Blazers, 3-1 (26-24, 25-8, 25-27, 25-17)
before continuing their run against the Albany State Rams, 3-0
(25-17, 25-19, 25-22).
In the first match, senior Nikki Hartman led all
attackers with 15 kills. Hartman, who led the team in 2008 with
494 kills, followed her offensive performance with an impressive
defensive display of 10 digs. Following the powerful outside
hitter was freshman Mikayla Pierce.
Pierce, a native of Fresno, Calif., had 10 kills in her first
collegiate performance and tallied 14 digs, tying the
match-high.
Sophomore libero Phobe Corder matched Pierce's 14 digs with 14 of
her own. The Buda, Texas native also led the team with two
aces.
Senior Natalie Branche recorded the
match-high with an attacking percentage of .333 with five kills at
the middle blocker position. She chipped in with five total
blocks, including one solo.
Freshman setter Kiana Parks was
spectacular in her collegiate debut racking up 37 assists.
In set one, the Tars had a sluggish start as the Blazers came out
hot taking a six-point lead at 20-16. Rollins mustered a comeback
and captured the first frame 26-24. Despite being out-hit in
attacking percentage .167 to .222, Rollins salvaged the set to take
the early, 1-0 match lead.
Following the first set, Rollins eased past VSU in the second,
25-8. The Tars cruised to the 17-point victory holding the Blazers
to a negative .320 attacking percentage.
Valdosta State did force a fourth set after capturing its lone set
victory in the third frame. With the match tied at 22, neither
team could escape the other as the Blazers hung on for the
two-point win, before Rollins secured the match in the fourth set,
25-17.
Against the Rams, Rollins controlled offensively hitting as a team,
.310. Again, it was Hartman leading the way with 14 kills, but
Pierce, Branche and Jenny Sherwood added
double-digit kill efforts to follow. Hartman, Branche and Sherwood
all hit over .400 in the three-set sweep.
Parks again dominated the flow of the game with quick sets to
Branche and Sherwood as she finished with 49 assists. Corder led
with 10 digs as freshman Kayla Austin and Hartman
hustled for seven apiece.
Rollins returns to action to wrap up the West Georgia Classic,
Saturday, August 29 when it competes against South Carolina-Aiken
at 12:30 p.m. before concluding against West Georgia at 3 p.m. For
free audio streaming of the match logon to
www.RollinsSports.com.
