SWEET BRIAR, Va. – The Sweet Briar volleyball team (0-5, 0-0 ODAC) competed in their first tri-match of the season against the Saint Elizabeth University Eagles (1-3, 0-0 AEC) and the Gallaudet University Bison (6-0, 0-0 UEC).
The Vixens fells to the Eagles, 3-0, with set scores of 25-23, 25-20, and 26-24 and to the Bison, 3-0, with set scores of 25-7, 25-17, and 25-8.
vs. Saint Elizabeth University
Sweet Briar came out sharply in the opening set and established an early edge behind efficient attacking. First-year
Addison Garner (Elizabeth City, N.C.) paced the attack with seven kills. The teams traded momentum in a close set that featured three ties and two lead changes, but Saint Elizabeth narrowly pulled ahead late to take the 25-23 win.
The second set proved to be the decisive stretch of the match. The Vixens still stayed active at the net, where they accumulated four block assists during the match, and continued to create opportunities from the service line. Saint Elizabeth, however, claimed a 25-20 victory to move within one set of the match.
Sweet Briar responded with its strongest push in the third set. The Vixens matched their first-set total with seven kills and fought Saint Elizabeth point for point in a frame that featured 12 ties and five lead changes. Sweet Briar's defense and serving helped keep the set close, but Saint Elizabeth ultimately edged the final exchanges taking the set 26-24 and securing the three-set win.
vs. Gallaudet University
Gallaudet took control early in the opening frame. Sweet Briar's defense produced six digs in the first set, led by first-year
Jaelyn Wood (Charlottesville, Va.), but Gallaudet's steady offense and service pressure prevented the Vixens from establishing sustained momentum and the Bison took the set 25-7.
Sweet Briar delivered its strongest offensive performance of the match in the second set, recording six kills. The Vixens stayed within reach through a back-and-forth stretch that included four tie scores and three lead changes, their most competitive sequence of the afternoon. Gallaudet eventually pulled away and claimed the frame 25-17, taking a two-set lead into the break.
In the third set Sweet Briar finished with two kills in the frame, but the Bison used their efficiency at the net and a strong serving performance to secure the 25-8 set win and the sweep.
Highlights
- Garner led Sweet Briar with seven kills, nine digs, and two block assists in the first match against Saint Elizabeth.
- Sophomore Yeriam Alyah Dávila Gerena (Rîo Grande, Puerto Rico) had a total of 22 assists between the two matches.
- First-year Allie de Moet (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) recorded four service aces in the first match against Saint Elizabeth
What's Next
The Vixens will face Averett University at home on Sept. 15th.
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