Jackson, MS – The Majors volleyball team came from behind to defeat Belhaven in five sets earlier tonight 3-2.
The intense, dramatic, and at times stressful matchup featured the two local Jackson schools in volleyball's own version of the Riverside Rumble. Millsaps, who improves to 6-7 on the year, won the final two sets en route to a 3-2 victory.
Belhaven's home court at Rugg Arena was packed to maximum capacity as the teams began the first set. Belhaven jumped out to an early 3-0 lead to start the game, as the Majors began the first of many comebacks on the evening.
Down 14-9, Millsaps started to rally by scoring the next four points. With the game tied 15-15, the Majors scored the next eight points en route to a 25-16 win.
Millsaps led 1-0, however, Belhaven began a rally of their own. The Blazers responded by providing more pressure and playing more aggressive to start the second set. The strategy by third year head coach, Justin Dee proved effective, as the Blazers held a 13-5 lead.
Holding an early lead, Belhaven never trailed in the second set. The Blazers won 25-18, bringing the match to a 1-1 draw.
The third and perhaps most intense set of the game began with Belhaven again holding an early lead. Millsaps responded by bringing the set to a tie at 7-7. The Majors then won the next seven points to lead Belhaven 14-7. Belhaven, however, began another come from behind rally.
Trailing 20-15, Belhaven continued their pressure, which eventually led to another tie at 23-23.
Needing to win by two, Belhaven and Millsaps began an intense back-and-forth series of points to determine the third set winner. Both teams tied three separate times at 24-24, 25-25 and 26-26. Led by senior Molly Boyer (who led Belhaven in kills with nine), the Blazers began a final push to win the set.
Scoring the final two points on a Chae Levy kill from Kelly Aholt, the Blazers won the third set 28-26 and took a 2-1 lead.
With the odds stacked against them, Millsaps needed to win the next two sets to earn a victory. With a daunting challenge ahead the Majors responded in the best way possible - by winning.
After another series of ties in the fourth set, the Majors pulled away to win 25-21. The trio of Olivia Kleyer, Courtney Huie, and Lexus Andrews led Millsaps in kills with 13 apiece, as Andrews final kill of the fourth set tied the match 2-2.
The decisive fifth and final set began, as eighth year head coach; Jaime Fisher led the Majors on the final come from behind push. After jumping out to an early 9-3 lead, Millsaps never looked back.
Olivia Kleyer's final kill completed the comeback, as the Majors won the fifth set 15-4. The win improves Millsaps to 6-7 on the year while Belhaven drops to 6-7.
The win also marks the second victory of the season against the Blazers, as tonight's short road trip began a series of away games.
The next trip will be to Memphis, Tennessee against SAA opponent Rhodes College. The conference matchup is set for this Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2:00 pm.
