JACKSON, Miss. – Volleyball split its two games on the opening day of the season in the Millsaps College Volleyball Tournament. Millsaps defeated Mississippi University for Women 3-0 (25-7, 25-14, 25-19) in their first match of the day and fell to East Texas Baptist 3-0 (25-23, 28-26, 25-19) in match two.

Match 1:
Millsaps took control of the match early in the first set, they scored seven out of the first nine points and did not look back. With the Majors leading 12-4, senior Regan Riddle (Montgomery, Ala) started a run of seven straight points with a kill assisted by senior Shelby Marsh (Dallas, Texas). Junior Gracie Bellnap (Kingwood, Texas) then began serving and rattled off six more points to secure the first set.

More of the same ensued in the second set, Millsaps went on two runs of eight and six consecutive points to take a 20-10 lead. A kill by freshman Maddie Grace McCurdy (Gulf Breeze, Fla) gave the Majors the two sets to none lead.

Set three went back-and-forth for both teams. Millsaps got off to a fast 4-1 lead, the closest MUW came was late in the set when they scored three straight points to make it 18-15. The Majors got the win with an ace from senior Madelyn Pearce (Alabaster, Ala).

Match 2:
This time, The Majors played in a much more competitive match against East Texas Baptist, but ultimately fell 3-0.

Once again, Millsaps started off the first set strong getting off to a quick 8-2 lead behind Marsh and senior Presley Stolzfus (Baton Rouge, La). The Tigers came storming back, eventually tying the set at eleven. After both teams traded points, the Majors took back a 23-19 lead behind kills from freshman Morgan Authement (Lacombe, La) and sophomore Mckenzi Petricko (Colorado Springs, Colo). After that, ETBU picked up the next six out of seven points to take the first set.

MIllsaps battled back from a 24-20 deficit in the second set to take it to extra points. After both teams traded points, ETBU eventually took the set 28-26.

A four point run by ETBU in the middle of the third set proved to be the difference in the match. The Tigers took the lead for good and hung on for the 25-19 win, taking the match in three sets.

With the split the Majors are now 1-1 on the season and continue on Saturday in the Millsaps College Tournament against Letourneau at 12:00 p.m. and Dillard at 4:00 p.m.