Winter Park, Fla. (September 11, 2021) – Rollins suffered two losses on the final day of the Rollins Invitational. The Tars lost a tough five-set match against the West Georgia Wolves (6-2), and then fell 3-1 against the Newberry Wolves (4-2) in the night cap.
Game One
West Georgia 3, Rollins 2
- Despite totaling eighteen kills in the first set, Rollins suffered a 25-23 loss. Both West Georgia and the Tars were incredibly efficient at the net, with the Wolves posting eleven kills against only three attack errors, and Rollins tallying a season-high mark in successful attacks.
- West Georgia stayed hot on the attack in the second set by committing only one attack error against eleven kills. It was a different story for Rollins, who only managed six kills and had seven attack errors.
- With their backs against the wall, the Tars were able to battle back in the third set, taking it by a score of 25-19. This time it was the defense who stepped up in a big way, forcing the Wolves into a whopping eleven attack errors and a -.125 attack percentage.
- Rollins kept their momentum with a 25-21 fourth set win. They struck efficiently at the net with 13 kills and four attack errors.
- A back-and-forth affair in the deciding fifth set ended with a 15-11 win for West Georgia.
- Freshman Lana Gerard had her top match to date, tallying 21 kills at a .209 efficiency. Four separate Tars ... Candace Doxey, Emma Begley, Tess Margio and Gerard recorded multiple blocks.
Game Two
Newberry 3, Rollins 1
- The Tars looked sharp in the first set of their final game, forcing Newberry into eight attack errors en route to a 25-21 win. Rollins only recorded eight kills, but were able to play strong at the net and force the Wolves into tough situations. Efficient serving also helped the Tars take the first set.
- The script flipped in set two with Newberry totaling 15 kills and only four errors. The Tars were able to match them, and in fact outscored them with 16 kills. However, a couple of mental errors late in the set allowed Newberry to hold on for a 25-20 win.
- Set three mirrored the second. Once again, Rollins outkilled Newberry 13-11, but their downfall was caused by eight Tars attack errors. Newberry once again won, 25-20.
- Continuing the theme in set four, Rollins had twelve kills against Newberry's ten. They also had eight errors compared to Newberry's five. And they also lost, again, by a score of 25-20.
- Gerard led the team in kills for the second time on the day with 15. She also added a service ace and eight digs. Riley Spurlin checked in with twelve kills, and leads the team in the category on the year.
Rollins will head back on the road next week with a pair of SSC matchups. They play at Barry on Friday September 17, and then at Embry-Riddle on Saturday September 18.
