MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Faulkner (20-14) evaded a spunky Martin Methodist (13-19) quad to earn the straight-sets victory 25-10, 26-24, 25-22 in pool play action here at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex this morning.

Set 1 for Faulkner looked a lot like the opening set yesterday with stern blocking, scrappy back row defense and aggressive swinging. 

Unfortunately, the second set also looked a lot like yesterday with its chaotic scrambles and lack of energy.

An eight-point Faulkner run while trailing six, however, generated a monumental tidal shift in momentum that ultimately helped see the Lady Eagles on to the win.

Martin Methodist found a small lead at 21-19 which helped push the set into a slight extension, but back-to-back power kills by Alysa Klassen in the middle, followed by a Martin Methodist hitting error gave the Lady Eagles the 2-0 lead.

The final game was back and forth throughout, but after a span of frustrating Faulkner execution and curious calls by the officials, Daijah Washington stepped up to the plate and hammered her hardest kill of the season into dead center court forcing the Lady Eagle bench and fans into an eruption of cheers. Faulkner never trailed again.

One of the biggest problems Faulkner faced was in setting up residency in the net. The Lady Eagles were called for six blocking errors in the straight-sets match.

Klassen led the Lady Eagle assault with 12 kills hitting a staggering .545. The middle also had a pair of block assists.

Cassie Bailie followed with 11 kills, hitting .233, and was third defensively with 11 digs ushering in her seventh double-double of the year and her second straight in the post season.

Tori Marchant led the front row in stops with five total blocks and added three kills.

Washington led the defense with 21 digs and added eight kills.

Libero Julianne Wilkes offered up 14 digs.

Katie Musser dished out 25 assists and had four digs while fellow setter Krystalynn Leomiti added 15 assists, four digs and a pair of block assists.

Faulkner will take on top-seeded Mobile tonight at 5 p.m. in the final bout of pool play.