COLUMBIA, S.C. (Sept. 24, 2020) – After both teams went back and forth taking two sets apiece to send the match into a fifth set, the Truett McConnell University women's volleyball team rose to the occasion and clinched the Appalachian Athletic Conference win by two points (25-27, 25-15, 18-25, 25-18, 15-13) at Columba International University on Thursday evening.
 
SET BY SET
A CIU attacking error sparked the strongest scoring run for TMU (6-0) in the first set to get out front by two (21-19), but in the end, the Rams recorded three straight kills to win in extra points (25-27). TMU started out hot in the second set to lead by 10 (13-3), and the Rams were never capable of recovering (25-15). CIU, however, would bounce back in the third set.
 
The Rams opened up the third set on an 8-0 run and the closest the Lady Bears were capable of getting was by four points the rest of the set as CIU moved ahead in the match 2-1. Both teams went neck and neck again until TMU eventually closed out the fourth set on an impressive 4-0 scoring run (25-18), which sent the match into the fifth set.
 
The fifth set was much like the rest of the match where both teams battled it out exchanging leads back and forth. A Sonya Silecky kill put the visiting Bears in winning position (14-11) and the Rams inched in from behind to get back within one (14-13), but it was ultimately TMU who took home the hard-fought win (15-13).
 
LEADERS
Freshman Jordan Roberts had a night leading the offense with 13 kills and added four blocks. Sophomore Ranavia Neal followed with 10 kills and led with five blocks, and junior Bethany Ross and Silecky added nine kills apiece. Senior Abby Maxwell recorded her fourth straight double-double with 36 assists and 12 digs, while fellow senior Hannah Conners led with 17 digs. Freshman Rachel Kessler added 13 digs.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Bears will return home to the TMU Volleyball and Wrestling Arena on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 11:00 a.m., to host Brenau University.