GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- In the first-ever meeting between the two programs, Tusculum women's volleyball pulled off a five-set comeback over Auburn-Montgomery in the Pioneer Classic opener on Thursday (Sept. 4) night.
The Pioneers (1-0) clipped the Warhawks (0-1) by scores of 25-16, 15-25, 15-25, 25-20, 15-13.
AUM had two players register 11 kills in the match: Anyaliz Rodriguez and Elise Fulgham. Kiara Vega and Addison Vinson split the setting duties, tallying 21 and 14 assists, respectively. Both Salome de Jesus and Vinson landed a pair of service aces from behind the line. Libero Taylor Lewis was the lone player in the match with double-digit digs with 15. Courtney Joseph was credited with four block assists.
In their Tusculum debut, Jaida Alvin led the Pioneers with nine kills, just ahead of Breana Pelbath's eight strikes. The latter also hit .500 from the middle. Eliza Jewell Oliverius played the final three sets to record six kills on a .444 clip. Addison McLarty (5), Jordyn Roderick (4), Adreana Lee (4), Isabella Bianchin (1), and Mackenzie Land (1) rounded out the scoring. Victoria Church (22) and Solene Roussel (12) combined for 34 assists in the two-setter system. Taylor Sanders landed four aces, while Mia Wave-Nelson and Roussel added a pair. Church led the dig category with nine, just one shy of a double-double. Oliverius was tagged with five total blocks (one solo, four assists).
Auburn-Montgomery hit .097 as a team with 46 kills and 32 errors on 145 total attempts. Tusculum hit .086 with 38 kills, 27 errors, and 128 total attacks. The Pioneers led the Warhawks in service aces (10-7) and total blocks (11-6), while the visitors tallied more assists (40-36) and digs (56-52).
The first set of the 2025 season featured seven ties and three lead changes. The teams were neck-and-neck until Tusculum broke the 8-8 tie. Winners of four of the next five, TU created separation. AUM was able to wiggle back into the mix but another 4-of-5 stretch by the Pioneers, with kills from Alvin, Bianchin, and Lee. The latter also started a 7-1 spurt to close out the frame. With Church behind the line, the Warhawks had four-straight attack errors, fueled by a pair of blocks. Wave-Nelson clinched the match lead with her first collegiate ace.
AUM led sets two and three from start to finish, combining for 21 kills, five aces, and five blocks in the span. The visitor opened up an 11-5 advantage and the lead continued to stretch until it reached 10 in the second set. The following set was near mirror image as the Warhawks closed out with a 6-1 spurt after an early lead.
Tusculum turned the match around in the fourth set, highlighted by four aces and three blocks. After dropping the opening point, AUM won the following three. TU then went on an 8-1 run, featuring a 7-0 spurt and three-straight aces by Sanders. The Warhawks were not able to get back within two scores as the Pioneers were able to extend the contest.
TU's defense was a factor in the final frame, mustering another three rejections. The Pioneers rallied from an 8-5 deficit using a 7-2 run, aided by two kills and a block from Pelbath and one kill and two blocks by Roderick. A solo block by Alvin sent Tusculum to match-point and two points later, Oliverius clinched the victory with a strike.
Tusculum continues its home tournament with a matchup against region foe Converse on Friday (Sept. 5) night at 7 p.m.
