PULASKI, Tenn. - Faulkner (5-10, 1-5 SSAC) dropped both ends of a doubleheader at the UT Southern Tri-Match on Saturday at the Curry Athletic Complex in a reverse sweep to host UTS (5-3, 1-3 SSAC) and a sweep to nonconference opponent Lindsey Wilson (15-3, 1-0 MSC).
UT Southern 3, Faulkner 2 (20-25, 25-27, 25-22, 25-15, 15-10)
Faulkner outhit the Firehawks .310 to .111 in the opening set to counteract early two-point deficits. The second frame was much closer with the Lady Eagles hitting just .167 to .111 again for UTS as each team scored 12 kills. After falling behind early, UTS took the lead back and had set point leading 24-20, but the Lady Eagles caught fire with a 7-1 run to go up 2-0, taking advantage of three attack errors and utilizing two kills by Charlee Jordan, one by Riley Deem and an ace by Chasity Broadhead. From there, it was all Firehawks as they won the hitting battle in each of the final three frames by margins of .444 to .242, .300 to .000 and .500 to .316, respectively.
Despite playing only eight players, UTS saw six players score at least five kills. Ashlee Kraft led the way with 19 kills on .342 hitting. Amree Patterson scored 12 on .417 hitting and six blocks, three of them solo. Jelleny Mallozzi scored six kills on .556 hitting with 36 assists, 17 digs and three aces.
Allyse Rudolph and Jordan tied for the team lead with 12 kills. Deem hit 10 for a .529 hitting percentage, and she and Jordan each added two blocks. Madison Martin tallied nine kills and seven total blocks, and Ellie Cyr added eight kills.
Lindsey Wilson 3, Faulkner 0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-21)
The crushing loss still fresh in their minds, the Lady Eagles were outgunned by the Blue Raiders, getting held to negative hitting in the first two frames while losing the battle .354 to .041. A 15-1 run, ending in an 11-0 span, in the opening set was emblematic of the assault Faulkner faced. The LWU attack was evenly distributed, as the kills leader had nine and no one else had more than six, but five hitters who played all three frames hit a minimum .300 clip.
Jordan led both teams with 10 kills, but in the same way as LWU, no other Lady Eagle scored more than six. No one else besides Rudolph had more than four, and it was Martin and Kaleigh Moss that reached that mark. Rudolph and Jordan tied for the team lead with eight scoops.
Before returning home and resuming SSAC play, the Lady Eagles take on Stillman for the second time this season, playing a match in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday, Sep. 23 at 6 pm on their way back to the Capitol of Dreams.
