MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Faulkner fell in two thrillers to open the 23rd Faulkner Invitational Friday in Tine Davis Gymnasium dropping to Southeastern by just two points in the fifth and three points to Ave Maria.

SOUTHEASTERN 3, FAULKNER 2 (25-22, 19-25, 25-19, 21-25, 16-14)

Following a hectic delay as the tournament shifted from two different floors to sharing one due to  a leak induced by the rain in the multiplex, the Lady Eagles took a 21-19 lead in the first set that was extremely back-and-forth, but Southeastern capitalized on four consecutive Faulkner errors to take the first set. 

Faulkner found its swing in the second set with 15 kills at a .314 clip and four blocks to take a commanding 25-19 set win to level the match. 

A 12-3 run for the Fire in the third set was enough for the visitors to take the match lead once again, but the Lady Eagles took seven of the last nine points of the fourth set to force a fifth set. 

The fifth set was a draining event, even for neutrals, as SEU jumped to a 4-2 lead before Faulkner clawed back to take the lead at 8-7 and then 10-9. The Fire won four straight to put The Lady Eagles on the ropes at 13-11, but Charlee Jordan's 16th kill of the match gave Faulkner a short lifeline that would be taken right back by the Fire to set up match point. After an attack error from the visitors gave Faulkner the serve back, Bella Vestbie laced back-to-back aces to tie it at 14. Unfortunately for the hosts, the win was not in the cards as Southeastern took the next two points and won. 

Jordan finished the match with a .342 attack percentage. Victoria Wheeler was a force in the block, being involved in seven of the team's 11 blocks in the match. Ashton McCullar led the way with 27 digs while Kolbi Bates added 15 as a defensive specialist. Ellie Cyr had a fantastic match with a double-double of 18 assists and 16 digs. Mandi Hart led the team in assists with 21. Bella Acosta, Wheeler and Haven Owings each totaled eight kills. 

AVE MARIA 3, FAULKNER 2 (14-25, 25-18, 25-20, 22-25, 15-12)

The nightcap was filled with dramatics, especially in the final three sets as the intensity heated up.  With Faulkner leading 20-19, an attack from Ave Maria was ruled to have hit the court to the strong disagreement of the home fans and side. The Gyrenes went on to win the next five points and take the match lead including a wild pinball that somehow landed on Faulkner's side as both teams had largely given up on the point thinking the Lady Eagles won it. 

In the fourth set, Julia Rice and Owings combined on the block to give Faulkner a 23-21 lead when Ellie Cyr stepped back to serve and the intensity in the gym really ramped up. Ave Maria's coach challenged that Cyr, who was approaching the end of the ninth set of the day in which she was a setter in a 6-2 offense, was wearing an illegal piece of jewelry. Rhi Keck's solo block off the ensuing gave the hosts set point and fired up the gym before a service error forced the fifth two points later. 

Ave Maria jumped ahead 7-2 in the fifth and it seemed like a night where each close call was just not going the way of the hosts with a couple of close line calls that became very contentious. The Lady Eagles chipped away before an electrifying 7-2 run featuring five kills and two aces brought Faulkner within one at 13-12 but the Gyrenes would win the next two points and close out the match. 

Owings led the attack with 15 kills while Jordan added 13. McCullar scooped 21 attacks and Mandi Hart's 14 digs helped her to a 22 assist double-double. Kolbi Bates added 11 digs. Cyr had 19 assists. Vestbie ended each match with five aces to total ten and averaged an ace per set. 

The Lady Eagles take the court again Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. when they take on Columbia International and Tennessee Wesleyan, respectively.  Read Full Article