CLEVELAND, Ga. – Down 2-1 in the match, Truett McConnell women's volleyball (18-7, 8-3 AAC) captured two straight sets to win 3-2 vs. Columbia International University (11-11, 7-3 AAC) Tuesday evening.
Three different Lady Bear recorded double-digit kills with
Julia Fisher (18),
Faith Clarkson (17) and
Alexis Mills (16). Fisher also had 19 digs on the match, giving her a double-double.
Caroline Yeager had a season-high 36 assists while also having 19 digs of her own.
As a team, TMU outperformed the Rams offensively with more points (78.0-64.0), kills (69-54) and assists (69-53).
Truett got out to a fast start in the first set with a 10-5 set lead before a CIU timeout. A 5-1 run by the visiting team forced a two-point margin nearly midway through the set. The Lady Bears kept the Rams at bay and controlled a 22-18 lead, but four consecutive points tied the set at 22-22. A final 3-1 run, which included two errors and an ace by
Adleigh Schwier ended the set and put TMU up 1-0.
Set two started with both teams even as the home team led 12-11 early. The pair battled at a 20-19 TMU lead before a 5-2 scoring run by the Rams gave them set point at 24-22. Three unanswered points by the Lady Bears flipped the script as they held set point, but a 3-0 run by CIU ended the set, tying the match 1-1.
Columbia International controlled the start of the third set, racing out to a 12-4 lead. With four team kills, the home squad was able to cut the deficit to four points, but a 5-2 run followed, resulting in a 19-12 CIU lead. TMU couldn't get back within six points as the Rams took the match lead 2-1.
With their backs against the wall, the Lady Bears answered in set four, climbing to a 12-8 lead. CIU tied the set at 15-15, but a 5-1 scoring run by Truett gave it control with a four-point advantage.
A 7-1 run by the Rams gave them control of the set at 23-21, but a 3-1 run ended the momentum for the away team and tied the set at 24-24. After a point for the away team, three unanswered points by the hosts tied the match at 2-2 and forced a fifth set.
With a 4-4 tie in the final set, the Rams took the lead at 6-4 before a 4-0 run by the home team regain control. With back-and-forth action, CIU held a 12-11 advantage, but a 3-0 Truett run, which included an ace by Schwier, put it at match point.
A final kill by Clarkson, assists by Yeager, ended the match and gave TMU its first win over CIU since 2020.
The Lady Bears begin a road trip this weekend at Milligan on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 11 a.m.
