Box Score
CHARLESTON, W. Va. – The University of Charleston upended No. 3 Alderson-Broaddus 3-2 in the final WVIAC quarterfinal match of the afternoon.
Game scores were 25-18, 18-25, 25-20, 23-25, 15-11.
The opening set stayed close for the first half, with the teams being tied at 14. However, the Golden Eagles’ Malleri Hardison took a pass from Kelsey Eby and slammed it home for a one-point lead. After going ahead by two, UC saw the Battlers fight back, tying it at 16.
The Golden Eagles registered another kill by Hardison to take the lead for good. Her kill started a 5-0 spurt by the No. 6 seed. During the run, Eby had an ace and Hardison tallied three kills. A-B pulled within four on a kill by Samantha Bailey, but could get no closer as UC closed out the set on a kill by Clairissa Larry for the 25-18 victory.
The Battlers posted a 25-18 win in the second frame. A-B jumped to a 6-1 lead thanks in part to two kills by Victoria Morgan and three attack errors by the Golden Eagles.
The Battlers increased their lead to six on a kill by Caitlin Cain, making the score 12-6. UC fought hard to pull even, but could get no closer than four the rest of the way. With the set at 20-16 in favor of the Battlers, Bailey had a kill and assisted Cain on a block to make it 22-16. Three points later, A-B regained control, registering kills by Bailey and Morgan to clinch the set.
A-B came out strong in the third set, gaining a 5-1 lead on a block by Morgan and Ashley MacDonald. Trailing 8-5, Larry started a 7-0 run by the Golden Eagles. She had a kill and Hardison followed it with an ace. Back-to-back kills by Larry forced A-B into a time-out. An error by the Battlers and a kill by Brenna Youlton made it a 12-8 contest.
A-B battled back, tying the score at 12 on an ace by Jillian Brown. The teams traded points, but Larry put UC in front for good at 14-13. Katharine Furlong made it a two-point lead. A kill by Victoria Severo and an ace made it 17-14.
The Golden Eagles widened their lead to five on a point by Youlton at 21-16. The squads traded points the rest of the way, with Larry slamming home the final kill to clinch the set at 25-20.
The Battlers opened a 9-4 lead on a kill by MacDonald off a pass from Kayla Peterson to make it a 9-4 contest in the fourth set. A-B maintained its advantage throughout, despite UC slicing the deficit to one at 12-11 off a kill from Furlong.
Hardison closed the deficit to two at 23-21, but an attack error gave the Battlers set point. The Golden Eagles fought it off with a kill and a block to make it a 24-23 contest. However, A-B completed a long rally for the set when Bailey and MacDonald blocked an attack for the clincher, forcing the deciding fifth set.
In the final set, UC took an 8-7 lead on a kill by Furlong. After switching sides, Cain blasted home a kill for an 8-8 tie. A serving error gave the all back to the Golden Eagles with a 9-8 lead. With Elle Martin back to serve, UC excelled. An attack error made it 10-8 and after a time-out, Severo slammed home a pass from Eby for a three-point edge.
Martin’s ace gave the Golden Eagles a 12-8 advantage, forcing another time-out. Martin dropped back to serve and recorded another ace for a 13-8 lead.
The Battlers fought back, scoring two points to make it 13-10. The first came on an error by UC while Morgan and Katie Bedel combined for a block for the second point.
A service error by A-B made it 14-10.The Battlers accounted for another block by Morgan and MacDonald. However, Hardison tallied the game-winning kill, sending the Golden Eagles into the semifinals.
UC was led by Hardison’s 21 kills. Furlong and Larry each added 13 kills while Severo chipped in 11. Eby dished out 47 assists while Martin totaled four aces. Defensively, Ashley Douglas had 23 digs. Eby notched 16 while Martin and Hardison each accounted for 13.
The Battlers were led by MacDonald’s 17 kills. Cain registered 13 kills while Morgan added 11. Peterson distributed 49 assists while Cain earned three aces. Defensively, Brown posted a match-high 26 digs while Cain totaled 20. Peterson and MacDonald each had 10 digs. Morgan had a huge match at the net, accounting for seven blocks while Bailey stuffed six.
UC will take on Seton Hill tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. for a spot in the WVIAC Finals.
