Box Score MC Readies for USA South Play
MARYVILLE – Maryville College ended the USA South Crossover Tournament in Brevard, N.C. on Saturday night, as the Scots fell in a hard-fought 3-2 match against Pfeiffer University.
Maryville ended weekend tournament with a 3-1 record, as the Scots look to open USA South Athletic Conference play this weekend.
"This weekend was all about trying to get in a rhythm before conference play," Head Coach Kandis Schram said. "So, coming out 3-1 is a positive toward opening up Wednesday with conference play."
MC swept William Peace University on Saturday before the nightcap with Pfieffer.
The Scots outhit the Falcons in the five-set match, but Pfeiffer edged Maryville, 22-25, 25-21, 25-23, 18-25, 15-12, in a match that saw 32 ties and a dozen lead changes.
MC's Brooklyn Wallet and Isabella Samson again led the Scots, combining for 24 total kills.
"They both played great," Schram said. "The word significant comes to mind. They're both very, very strong, but Brooklyn was just lights out. Isabella's doing some really positive things for us, and absolutely, they were solid this weekend."
Maryville took the first set, 25-22, as Zoey Slack and Hannah Kammer had four kills each. Wallet added four total blocks – three of those solo, in the victory.
During the second set, the Falcons found momentum behind a .286 hitting percentage. Samson and Wallet had four kills each, while Meredith Bonee added six assists and a pair of service aces.
The third set saw the Scots lead, 21-20 late, before Pfeiffer rattled off a late rally. MC's 12 kills spread across seven players with Samson having a trio.
Maryville rallied for a 25-18 fourth-set win, as four aces aided MC. Seven players again split the 13 kills, as Wallet (four) and Samson (three) led the way. Reese Bailey added three blocks in the fourth set win.
Despite Maryville having its best hitting set in the fifth with a .450 clip, Pfeiffer's Mattie Burris tallied four of the Falcons six kills. Set, serve and reception errors hindered MC late, 15-12.
Maryville (4-7) saw Wallet tally 13 kills, six blocks, an assist and an ace on the afternoon. Samson had 11 kills, eight digs and an ace, while Bonee added a double-double of 32 assists, 12 digs, six kills, four aces and three blocks.
Reese had five kills, as Amii Ingalls, Landry Frisch, Morgan Smithson, Slack and Kammer added four kills each. Natalie Watts had a dozen digs with five assists, as Frisch added nine digs. Ingalls added eight digs along with Samson's.
Pfeiffer (7-2) saw Anya Parker finish the day with 14 kills, as Kylee Mayberry (25) and Kira Suttles (20) split the assist duties. Mayberry finished with a double-double, adding a team-high 15 digs alongside Emma Gray Beachman.
The Scots look next to USA South foe Covenant College.
"Right now, we need to rest, rehydrate and believe in the plan," Schram added. "Covenant is going to be a tough team. They've always been a very tough opponent, and we're going to have to take them extremely serious, and yet, play our game."
MC takes on the Battle of the Scots on Wednesday, Sept. 22. First serve for the conference bout is slated for 7:00 p.m.
