GREENWOOD, S.C. --- The Tusculum women's volleyball team overcame a two-set deficit and pulled off a comeback over North Greenville to close out the Redderson Invitational on Saturday morning (Sept. 7).
Tusculum (2-2) came from behind to down North Greenville (1-2) in a five-set thriller by scores of 20-25, 17-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-8.
North Greenville had four players reach double figures in kills: Peyton Taylor (15), Samantha Ball (14), Anna Fiddelke (13), and Elena Dyer (12). Allison Ball distributed 34 assists, while Madison Sherman added 15. Samantha Ball recorded four service aces and 19 digs to lead the Trailblazers. Anna Nedwards was credited with four total blocks.
Katherine Perrin continued her tear, landing a match-high 17 kills. Addison McLarty and Martina Foster joined her in double-digits with 12 and 11, respectively. Also in the offensive column were Madison Adkins (6), Jamianne Foster (4), Olivia Crowl (3), McKayla Willey (3), Jordyn Anderson (1), and Jordyn Roderick (1). The elder Foster's total was a career-high. Adkins dished out 41 assists, while Martina Foster racked up a career-best five aces, over half of the Pioneers' total. Taylor Sanders upped her collegiate best in digs for the second-straight match, reaching the 20-digs mark for the first time (21). Amiranee Au added 17 digs and Adkins rounded out her double-double with 12. Martina Foster was credited with five total blocks (one solo, four assists), with Adkins just behind with four (three solo, one assist).
North Greenville hit .189 as a team with 61 kills and 26 errors on 185 total attempts. Tusculum hit .211 with 58 kills, 21 errors, and 175 total attacks. The Trailblazers led the match in assists (57-51), service aces (12-8), and digs (84-80), while the Pioneers tallied more total blocks (10-7).
Tusculum took an early 6-2 advantage before North Greenville rattled off six-straight points. The Pioneers were able to tie the frame at 11-all, but five more scores by the Trailblazers forced a timeout. NGU continued to widen the gap and TU was unable to collect the first set. Perrin tallied five kills, but the Pioneers hit just .065 as a team, due in part to four NGU blocks.
The second set was much of the same. Tusculum squandered a lead, tied the score at 9-9, and then North Greenville went on a run. Martina Foster capitalized on three of her five swings, while Adkins was perfect in two attempts.
The defense came up big in the third set to avoid the sweep. Sanders alone recorded 12 digs as the net crew recorded four rejections. Foster also had a clutch outing at the service line with three aces, including the final two points. TU jumped out to a 6-3 edge forcing a NGU pause. The teams traded leads until Tusculum put its foot on the gas around the 20-point mark. Two unforced errors, a block and kill by McLarty, and Foster's aces bought the Pioneers another set.
Tusculum racked up 17 kills in the fourth frame, highlighted by six from McLarty and five by Perrin. Au headed up the back row defense with eight digs. NGU had the early set lead before TU made a run. The teams jostled for position until the mid-way point when McLarty and Jamianne Foster came up with big contributions. The Trailblazers also added several unforced errors towards the end as Martina Foster and Perrin were used to close out.
Set five was all Tusculum. The Pioneers hit .471 to the Trailblazers' .095. TU were errorless in 17 attempts, finding open court in eight. Perrin (3), Foster (2), McLarty (2), and Adkins (1) found paydirt. Tusculum won the first three scores, aided by back-to-back attack errors by North Greenville. The lead continued to grow, reaching eight. NGU fought off two match-points, but McLarty provided the final dagger.
Tusculum returns to action next weekend (Sept. 12-14) at the UAH Invitational. The Pioneers start the Alabama event with Harding on Thursday night at 7 p.m. EST.
