CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Golden Eagles overcame a flat performance on the court Thursday evening in the Wehrle Innovation Center, defeating the Battlers from Alderson Broaddus University in four sets to improve to 7-1 on the season.
Just the Basics
SCORE
University of Charleston 3, Alderson Broaddus 1 (25-18, 21-25, 27-25, 25-22)
TEAM RECORDS
Charleston (7-1, 2-0 EIVA)
Alderson Broaddus (2-7)
How it Happened
Charleston got off to flying start against the Battlers, hitting at .429 in the opening set to easily take a 1-0 match lead after taking the game 25-18. Brandon Greenway led the charge with six first set kills, finishing with 11 for the match. Coach Dr. Bren Stevens wanted to give her bench players some match experience in the second set, inserting four new players to start the set. Her experiment didn't go as planned, as Alderson Broaddus took advantage of UC's inexperience to even the match at 1-1 following a 25-21 second set victory.
Heading to the third tied, Charleston struggled in the early stages of the set to trail the Battlers 13-6 at the midway point. A timeout by Stevens helped the Golden Eagles regroup and reel off six straight points to narrow the deficit to a single point, 13-12. UC appeared to be in command of the set with a 23-20 lead late, only to see AB even the score at 24-24 five points later. Fortunately for UC, Max Senica came up with one of his 12 kills and a block by Greenway and Eugene Stuart put Charleston ahead 27-25 and take a 2-1 match lead.
Again, Charleston looked to have the match wrapped up with an 18-13 lead late in the fourth set but a furious comeback by the Battlers tied the match at 21-21. The Golden Eagles were determined to close match in four sets and came up with four of the next five points, capped off by a double block by Senica and Stuart on AB's Jose Ramirez to close the match with a 25-22 fourth set victory.
UC Match Leaders
Kills – Max Senica (12), Brandon Greenway (11), Eugene Stuart (9)
Assists – Anthony Rivera (46)
Digs – Darrin Depellegrini (12), Senica (8)
Blocks – Eugene Stuart (5), Adriel Roberts (3), Greenway (3)
Aces – Ryan Santos (2)
NOTABLES
- UC's Anthony Rivera set a season-high marks in both assists (46) and kills (5) from his setter position in the four-set victory of Alderson Broaddus. Charleston freshman Ian Barker recorded his first action in a Golden Eagle uniform, recording two kills and two digs in his debut.
NEXT UP
Charleston goes on the road for their next 10 matches before returning home on Friday, March 23
rd against George Mason University. UC begins their road trip against Saint Francis University next Friday in Loretto, Pa. with first serve set for 7:00 p.m.
--UC--
