GREENWOOD, S.C. – The Flagler volleyball team traveled to Lander University in a Peach Belt Conference match Friday night inside Finis Horne Arena. The Saints extended their winning streak to 14 consecutive matches with a 3-0 sweep over the Bearcats, winning 25-16, 25-18, 25-17.
QUOTES FROM COACH
"To lead from start to finish at this level is such a noteworthy accomplishment, especially on the road."
Jeff Reynolds said.
"I love the fact that we are taking care of business with a variety of options and not just one player or limited options. We have some things to improve on, to be sure, but I like where we are at this point." Reynolds added.
"Our focus is on our next game. That's the next thing we have to conquer. We'll be traveling late tonight in order to get to Milledgeville and hopefully get some rest before our game tomorrow." Reynolds finished.
Flagler vs. Lander
Score: Flagler 3, Lander 0 (25-16. 25-18, 25-17)
Location: Greenwood, S.C. (Finis Horne Arena)
Records: Flagler (15-2) PBC (4-0), Lander (5-9) PBC (2-3)
OPENING VOLLEY
- Marley Middlebrooks recorded her 12th double-double of the season, producing 11 kills and 15 digs. Middlebrooks also added one assist, an ace and three blocks.
- Gia Lowe generated 10 kills with a .292 hitting percentage while adding two blocks and one dig.
- Freshman Mar'ley Phillips produced nine kills and five digs. Phillips added an ace and a block.
- Senior Katherine Rank added six kills and posted a .455 hitting percentage.
- Gracie Fleming recorded four kills without an error for a .400 hitting percentage. Fleming also contributed six blocks.
- Jilly Young and Bella Law continued to provide a strong offensive presence at setter. Young produced 19 assists including four aces and five digs. Law added 15 assists and three digs while producing two kills.
- Amelia Fitzpatrick was a key contributor defensively, recording 10 digs while adding two aces.
THE DIFFERENCE
- The Saints got off to a steady start, recording two kills and capitalizing on a Bearcat error to take a 4-2 lead before going on a 6-2 run to increase the advantage to 10-4. Flagler continued to extend the lead with three kills and an ace to jump to a 13-6 lead. The Bearcats responded with a back-and-forth battle, but the Saints maintained a 19-12 lead before adding two more kills to go up 21-12. Lander refused to go quietly, putting together a four-point run to cut the deficit to 21-16. However, the Saints closed the set with a four-point run, including a Lowe kill, to take the opening set 25-16.
- Flagler continued to hold the lead throughout the second set, producing four kills and capitalized on two Bearcat errors a 6-2 lead. The Saints extended the lead with three kills and an ace to go up 10-6. Flagler then stepped on the gas with a 6-1 run to extend the lead to 16-7. Lander tied close the gap with a 7-5 run, but the Saints maintained control. Flagler closed out the set with two aces, a kill and a Bearcat error to win 25-18.
- Flagler came out strong in the final set, recording four kills and an ace to lead 5-2. The Bearcats started to fight back with two kills and two Saints errors to cut the deficit to 7-6. Flagler responded with five kills and a Lander error to jump ahead 13-8. Lander continued to battle, putting together a four-point run to make it 14-12. The Saints responded with a 6-3 run to increase the lead to 20-15. In a final effort to keep the set close, Lander cut the deficit to 23-17, but Flagler closed the door with a kill and ace by Young to take set three 25-17.
NOTABLES
- The Saints stayed in the lead for the entirety of the match.
- Friday's victory puts the Saints in fifth place in program history for the longest win streak, with 14 consecutive wins.
COMING UP
The Saints will travel to Milledgeville, Ga. tonight to face Georgia College & State University in a Peach Belt Conference matchup on Saturday, October 3
rd at 1 p.m.
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