Box Score

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Despite controlling the first two sets of play the University of Charleston volleyball team was unable to close out Alderson-Broaddus with the visitors slowly slipping away to a 3-1 victory, Thursday in Eddie King Gym.

UC (11-15) came off the opening serve with more enthusiasm and power around the net than the Battlers. The energy shown in the first set vaulted the Golden Eagles to a 25-23 win in the opening game behind a game-high .250 hitting percentage. In the win Charleston pulled away halfway through the set before A-B made a last ditch effort to get back in the game at 21-19, yet a strong showing by Malleri Hardison (Uniontown, PA) in the final hit attempts allowed the home squad to lock up the 1-0 score.

The University of Charleston continued to control the match in the second set by pulling out to an early 10-5 advantage, which they would hold at 4-5 point for almost the duration of the set. Just as the Golden Eagles looked to be rolling to a 2-0 lead Alderson-Broaddus found the offense that had brought them into the game at 8-1 in West Virginia Conference play. The visitors accounted for the final seven points in the contest to not only come from behind, but to claim the set win 26-24.

After the let down from the second set UC never looked as sharp again. A-B forced nine hitting errors by the home team in the third set for Charleston's lowest attack numbers on the evening at .042 hitting. The Battlers held off a late rally to move ahead 2-1 with a 25-19 third set win.

Charleston did not go away quietly as they put a strong fight together in the fourth set, leading for much of the frame but it wouldn't be enough to hold off the second place team in the WVIAC. Alderson-Broaddus hit for .308 compared to UC's .220 as they took the win with a 25-21 deciding set win.

Hardison led the Golden Eagles offensively with 18 kills behind a .224 hitting percentage. Katharine Furlong (Sedona, AZ) was the only other Charleston player to record double-digit scoring, while Kelsey Eby (Portland, OR) directed a strong effort with 42 assists.

Defensively, Brenna Youlton (Chatham, Canada) had the highest marks on the night with four blocks.

UC returns to the court on Tuesday, Nov. 6 when they travel to WVIAC opponent Concord for a 6:00 pm contest.