CLEVELAND, Ga. (September 7, 2023) – On Thursday, the Truett McConnell University women's volleyball team hosted Reinhardt University for their first Appalachian Athletic Conference match-up of the season, where the Lady Bears swept the Eagles to advance their overall record 5-4, 1-0 AAC (25-21, 25-21, 25-21). Reinhardt falls to an overall record of 7-2 and 0-1 AAC.
 
This is the first time TMU has beat Reinhardt in a match-up since 2016, and the first time the Lady Bears have swept the Eagles in three sets in 10+ years. 
 
PLAY-BY-PLAY
In the first set the Lady Bears started off hot with a three-point rally, featuring a kill by Rylee Simpson (3-0). TMU continued to lead the Eagles with kills by Katie Williams and Ranavia Neal. A last chance effort by RU attempted to close the gap, but wasn't enough as the Lady Bears took set one, 25-21.
 
In the second set, the Eagles were first on the board, but a quick three-point rally by the Lady Bears, featuring kills by Neal and Sonya Silecky, put TMU ahead once again (3-1). TMU increased the margin by nine points (21-12), but a five-point rally by RU gave the Eagles a fighting chance (21-16). The lady Bears were not shaken, and a final kill by Leah Bowen ultimately sealed the deal in set two, 25-21.
 
The Eagles attacked hard with a three-point rally to begin set three, but a four-point rally from the Lady Bears, featuring kills by Neal and Silecky, paired with two service aces from Williams, put TMU ahead by one (4-3). The set remained evenly matched until a four-point rally from the Lady Bears, with kills by Williams and Neal, put the Lady Bears ahead by four (24-20). A final kill by Neal clinched the win for the Lady Bears as they swept the Eagles in three sets (25-21).
 
LEADERS
Williams led the way with 14 kills and three service aces. Neal followed with 10 kills, followed by Jordan Roberts with nine kills and Silecky with six kills. Simpson recorded 38 assists on the day, while Rachel Kessler had 18 digs and Roberts had four blocks.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Bears will be back in action on Saturday, September 9, where they will host a tri-match against Columbia International and Talladega College. First match time set for 1:00 p.m. against CIU, inside the Harris Athletic Complex.