MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The last time Faulkner volleyball took the court for competition (Nov. 15, 2019), people hadn't heard of COVID-19, but in a gym full of mask-clad fans and game staff Faulkner (1-1) started its season on a strong foot with a 3-1 win over Talladega before falling to the undefeated 2020 Sun Conference champion Keiser 3-0 at the Faulkner Invitational Friday in Tine Davis Gymnasium. The event, originally scheduled for 16 matches over two days between eight teams, narrowed to a field of four teams playing seven matches.

Faulkner 3, Talladega 1 (25-21, 25-18, 24-26, 25-12)

Shaking off the 441 days of rust, Faulkner found timely kills to knock off a scrappy Talladega side.

Consecutive kills from the middle blocker tandem of Kortney Barnes and Mallory Black sparked a four point run to pull Tori Renda's side to its largest lead of the opening set. The Tornadoes spun at the Faulkner advantage, but the Lady Eagles held on to take the first set of collegiate volleyball played on the new floor design since its installment in June. 

After trading leads in the early stages, Hannah Bryan's spike at 18-16 in the second set ignited a 7-2 closeout run for the Lady Eagles featuring two more kills and an ace. 

Keundra Rembert's three aces in four serves catalyzed a 9-4 Tornado run to take a 13-9 lead. Faulkner stormed back to tie thrice, but Reanna Burroughs joined Kaytlyn Maddox on a block before tucking the set point away. 

After falling behind 6-5, Black buried three kills in five points sparked a 20-6 run to close out the match. She finished the match with 10 kills and two blocks. Bryan had identical numbers and added seven digs. Sarah-Gracen Watts had 15 digs and two aces as libero. Alyssa Stagner had 29 assists and 12 digs.

Keiser 3, Faulkner 0 (25-13, 25-12, 25-20)

Playing in their first contests of the spring after a 19-0 fall, the Seahawks (21-0) showed their own version of the legion of boom during the nightcap, racking up 44 kills to just seven errors in the three set match paced by the Sun Conference Player of the Year Abbie Seward's 15 kills. 

Down 21-10 in the third set, Faulkner gritted its teeth and launched a 10-3 run powered by seven kills and an ace before a Bryan attack was ruled to have sailed long, ending the match. 

Alysa Vinson ended the match leading the team in kills and digs with seven and 19 respectively. Katie Jordan accounted for three of the four Lady Eagle aces in the match. 

Faulkner plays two more matches Saturday in the Invitational: squaring off with Life at 10:30 and a rematch with Keiser at 1 p.m.