GREENWOOD, S.C. – Rebekah Machovec recorded a match-high 12 kills, added nine digs, and three aces to help Flagler College to a 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-23) sweep over Lander University in a Peach Belt Conference match Friday evening at Finis Horne Arena.

Flagler won its third match in a row and improved to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the Peach Belt. Lander dropped to 1-2 overall and in conference play.

Rebekah Machovec hit a season-best .360 with only three errors on 25 swings. Rachel Machovec and Jordan Taylor each added eight kills for the Saints. Logan Garcia contributed five kills and four total blocks. Kennedy Muff tallied 25 assists while Edie Lamoreaux collected a team-high 11 digs. Lamoreaux also added four aces.

"The fight our team showed tonight through all of the adversity and changes that occurred makes this one of the best wins we have had here in my seven seasons," said head coach Matt Affolder. "It was so impressive to see the focused, intentional start that we had in sets one and two that propelled us to big leads and really set the tone for the match. Rebekah continues to impact the game in so many positive ways for us, and Edie was an absolute stud tonight covering a ton of ground defensively and causing major problems with her serve. Our middles really clicked as well, as I think Kennedy did a fantastic job of locating and finding the tempo we needed to get great swings."

Christina Aquayo led the Bearcats with nine kills and eight digs. Madilyn Reed registered 19 assists. Maddie Moss notched a double-double with a match-high 15 digs and 11 assists. Alexa Barral had five total blocks.

The Saints opened the first set on a 10-2 run and never trailed. The Bearcats rallied and got to within three (21-18), but could not get any closer.

Flagler hit .303 with 15 kills and five errors on 33 swings. Rachel Machovec led the Saints with five kills and a .364 hitting percentage.

Just like the first set, the Saints sprinted out to an 8-2 lead, but this time the Bearcats rallied. Lander scored five consecutive points to erase an 18-16 Flagler lead. But three consecutive aces by Rebekah Machovec swung the momentum to Flagler and the Saints went on to finish the set.

The third set was very competitive with seven ties and four lead changes. The Bearcats had an 18-12 lead and looked to be rolling to a win, but a 10-2 run by the Saints erased that lead as Lamoreaux's second consecutive ace tied the score at 22. A kill by Victoria Bowrosen and a pair of hitting errors by Lander ended the match.

Rebekah Machovec had five kills and four digs for the Saints. Aguayo had six kills and six digs for the Bearcats.

"We are thrilled to get this win against a very tenacious and athletic Lander squad, and I know our team will be ready to go tomorrow for our maiden voyage against Young Harris," said Affolder.

Flagler visits Young Harris College tomorrow at 3 p.m. for the first volleyball match between the two schools.
 
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