MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Faulkner came from behind amid a raucous crowd in Tine Davis Gymnasium amid Homecoming week festivities on Friday evening to take the first set, but William Carey (18-6, 8-2 SSAC) took control from there to take the next three sets (25-27, 25-18, 25-16, 25-16) over the Lady Eagles (8-14, 3-7 SSAC) on a day in which past members of the volleyball program were invited back to honor Coach Tori Renda for her 22 seasons leading the program.
Faulkner twice trailed by four in the opening set before coming back each time. Having tied it at 23 apiece, the Lady Eagles surrendered set point but tied it with an Emma Hayes kill and a block by Madison Martin and Kynsi Hazzard. A solo block tied it at 25-all, but Hayes and Caroline Sticker promptly sealed the set with kills to the thunderous approval of the students and fans in one of the best atmospheres in Tine Davis in recent memory.
After Faulkner led 10-7 at one point in the second set, sustained runs spelled a comeback and a comfortable win for the Crusaders. The teams opened the third set by trading points before runs of 6-0 and 8-1 tilted momentum firmly in favor of the visitors. The final frame was more of the same in that regard, as Carey pulled away with four 3-0 runs as well as a 5-0 run to seize control.
Alejandra Villarreal led the Crusaders with 16 kills, with Rachel Stegall scoring 11, Gabriella Martensson 10, Reagan Ziegler nine and Maurin Reyes seven. Setters Emily Martin and Eduarda Bicalho put up 25 and 18 assists and 11 and 10 digs, respectively. Libero Evelyn Araujo scored 16 digs and seven assists, and Stegall added nine digs. Payton McClarren put up three aces and seven digs.
Jakaya Smith led Faulkner with 10 kills to go with eight digs. Hazzard scored seven kills and assisted on five blocks. Sticker put up 13 digs, six kills and two aces. Martin and Riley Deem each scored four kills as Martin had two block assists. Hayes assisted four blocks. Setters Olivia Kelly and Chasity Broadhead logged 17 and 13 assists and seven and five digs, respectively. Libero Jaylyn Strength put up a team-best 17 digs with five assists.
While not the desired result, the final score was almost secondary after the match was complete as current and former team members, students and athletic department staff gave their well wishes to the fearless leader of Faulkner Volleyball who has given so much and been so much more than a coach to so many through her time leading the Lady Eagles.
Three weeks remain in Renda's final regular season with the program, starting with a return trip to Wesleyan next Friday at 5 pm CT, before the SSAC Championship.
