Pensacola, Fla.. - The Lady Eagles traveled to Pensacola Christian College for a non-conference match-up on Tuesday night. Faulkner started behind the eightball by dropping the first set, but they turned the match around with three straight sets. Pensacola Christian didn't go down swinging though, they kept the last three sets close, but the power of the Faulkner Lady Eagles outweighed the Eagles. Faulkner picked up the road win 3-1.
Faulkner 3, Pensacola Christian 1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-23)
Set 1
In the first set, the Lady Eagles started slowly and fell behind as Pensacola pushed out to a 10-3 lead. Faulkner slowly climbed back in the set to be only down by five, but the Eagles maintained their lead and won the set. 25-20 over the Lady Eagles.
Set 2
For set two, the two teams found themselves even after eight serves with the score 4-4. The set went back and forth with Pensacola only leading by two at the most. Faulkner took the lead after a kill by Rhiannon Keck to put the Lady Eagles up 16-15.
Pensacola quickly tied and took the lead after a kill from Helen Payton and an error from the Lady Eagles.
The score would teeter-totter back and forth until the Lady Eagles took a 9-1 run late in the set to take the lead and seal the set two win. The comeback rally came behind several errors from the Eagles, a kill from Hannah Bryan and the final point on an ace from Mandi Hart to win 25-20.
Set 3
In the third set, the Lady Eagles came out swinging. They took a commanding lead over Pensacola Christian. The score sat 9-2, forcing the Eagles to take a timeout.
Out of the timeout Pensacola cut the lead down by scoring three straight points, but the Lady Eagles pushed their lead back after scoring on four of the next five serves.
The two teams would trade points on the next few serves, but Faulkner held on to the lead.
Late in the set, the Eagles drew within four to put Faulkner up 18-14.
The Lady Eagles quickly went back up seven with three straight points after a kill from Ellie Cyr and two attack errors from Pensacola Christian.
Pensacola took another timeout to collect themselves, but out of the break, Ellie Cyr served up an ace.
The Eagles answered with a kill from Lyssie Metzker, but Hannah Bryan responded with a kill. Pensacola gave up another point right after with an attack error.
The Lady Eagles let two more points go up on the board after a pair of kills from Pensacola, but they quickly ended the game on the next serve after a service error from the Eagles. Faulkner took set two 25-17 and headed to the fourth looking to put the Eagles away.
Set 4
In the fourth set, Pensacola came out with back-to-back points. Faulkner answered with four of their own. Rhiannon Keck, Allyse Rudolph and Ellie Cyr each had a kill and the fourth point came on an attack error.
Each team earned a point on the next two serves. Then Pensacola hit a 4-0 run to take a 7-5 lead over Faulkner.
Faulkner took a timeout to try to gather for a rally, but out of the timeout, Pensacola continued to apply the pressure. They scored on six of the next nine serves to push their lead to 13-8.
The Lady Eagles hit a stride with four straight to bring them within one.
Pensacola would put down three more to push back their lead, but Faulkner would score three more points after three errors in a row from Pensacola.
The score sat 16-15 in favor of Pensacola. The Eagles took a two-point lead on a kill from Michaila Kinney. Faulkner then tied it up after trailing since Pensacola took the lead early in the set.
Pensacola took a much-needed timeout. Out of the break they took the lead back with a kill from Lyssie Metzker. Allyse Rudolph tied it up right after with a kill of her own.
The Eagles were not done fighting though as they took the lead behind a kill from Allie Whiting. Hannah Bryan took over late with two kills to gain the lead once more.
Pensacola tied it up again after the Lady Eagles served an error, but Faulkner didn't let that phase them as they scored on the next four serves. The four-point lead came from two kills from Rhiannon Keck and Madison Martin; an ace from Ellie Cyr and an attack error from the Eagles.
Now up 24-20 and with match point looming, the Lady Eagles served once more, looking for the win. Pensacola wasn't quite ready for the ball game to end, as they scored three straight to draw within one.
The Lady Eagles took set four and the match on the next serve off a kill from Rhiannon Keck to win 25-23. The Lady Eagles won the match 3-1 after a hard-fought battle with the Eagles of Pensacola Christian.
The leaders for Faulkner were Hannah Bryan with 12 kills and Rhiannon Keck with 11. The Lady Eagles had four players with double-digit digs. Ashton McCullar and Jaylyn Strength had 16 and 14 digs. Mandi Hart and Hannah Bryan had 11 and 10. Hannah Bryan came away with another double-double with kills and digs. Mandi Hart led the team in assists with 26. Ellie Cyr, behind her with 18.
Faulkner returns to action on Friday, Sept. 13 for another non-conference match. They host Southern University at New Orleans for a 6:00 p.m. first serve.
