Box Score Maryville Takes Down Berea 3-1
MARYVILLE – Maryville made sure this year's seniors remembered their special night with fond memories after a 3-1 thumping of Berea.
Senior Night honorees Meredith Bonee and Hannah Potts have been a part of 44 USA South regular season victories against just four defeats, with an overall record during those four years of 77-26. The Scots as a program are riding a streak of 36 consecutive regular season conference wins.
Wednesday's set scores were 25-11, 23-25, 25-17 and 25-18, matching the 3-1 victory over these same Mountaineers last month in Kentucky.
It all started with a terrific opening set, something that's never guaranteed after the pregame festivities. Maryville broke on top 7-1 and never trailed.
"You always worry about Senior Night because there's so much emotion and the ability to focus and you want it so bad – just managing that can be difficult," Maryville head coach Kandis Schram said. "But that first set was dynamite. They trusted the game plan and it was great."
Senior Night Double-Double
Bonee had double-digit assists in all four sets on her way to 46, but those 12 in Set 1 set the tone for the night. The senior finished with her 12th double-double of the season by adding 19 digs.
"We were firing on all cylinders," said Bonee, who upper her career assist total to 2,184. "We got into a little rut in that second set but then I was proud of how we worked our way out of it and took those third and fourth sets."
Schram said the second set wasn't bad, either, but that the team just lost focus. Maryville led that stanza 20-16 before Berea ended on a 9-3 run to even the match at 1-1.
The Scots bounced back in Sets 3 and 4 thanks to more fast starts. After an early lead change, Maryville jumped in front 9-4 in the third. The Mountaineers pulled within 15-12 and 16-13 before the Scots ended the set on a 9-4 run to go back in front.
In the fourth, Maryville dropped two of the first three points but then broke out an 11-2 run to go in front 12-4. Berea never drew any closer than a seven-point deficit and the Mountaineers saw their five-match winning streak come to an end.
Big Numbers All Around
Brooklyn Wallet led all players with 17 kills, while Amii Ingalls posted a double-double with 14 kills and 22 digs. Isabella Samson added 12 kills and Natalie Watts was solid once again on defense with 27 digs. Potts on her Senior Night added three kills and Landry Frisch pitched in 13 digs.
Berea dropped to 16-10 overall and 8-3 in the USA South, still good for third place in the Western Division. Maryville has won six in a row, 12 of its last 13 and 15 of 17 to climb to 16-8 overall and a perfect 12-0 in conference.
"We all came together as a team and pulled out a win against a tough opponent," Potts said. "It was crucial to keep our energy throughout the four sets. I'm excited and thrilled to take on these next four games and solidify our seeding in the conference and keep moving forward.
Maryville's next action is Saturday for Homecoming. The Scots host LaGrange at noon and Brevard at 4 p.m. in another USA South tri-match.
"Tonight was critical; every match is critical," Schram said. "We are looking forward to being at home this Saturday and are relishing every match, taking them one at a time and we'll see what happens."
Special Surprise
In addition to seniors Bonee and Potts, the program also surprised former team member Linnea Liebert and included her in Senior Night. Liebert's mother, Christina, was even in on the surprise and flew up from Florida.
