The Millsaps College volleyball team (8-11, 3-9 SAA) was defeated in a pair of SAA matchups this weekend at Centre and Sewanee. The Majors fell to the Colonels, 3-0 on Saturday and dropped a five-set heartbreaker to the Tigers on Sunday.

Match 1: Centre 3, Millsaps 0 (Saturday)

DANVILLE, Ky. – Millsaps was swept by Centre (15-4, 6-3 SAA) by a score of 25-18, 25-15, 25-18. Sophomore Margaret Richardson tied her career high with 19 assists at Alumni Gymnasium on Saturday.

Senior Alyssa Jolly marked two team highs with eight kills and 11 digs and eight kills.

Brenna Macaluso and Bre Reed provided solid showings with six kills each and a combined effort of four blocks.

The Majors raced out to an 8-4 lead in the first set. Centre immediately used a 4-0 surge to knot up the set. Midway through the set with the score tied 10-10, the Colonels utilized a 7-2 run to help claim the first set victory at 25-18.

A kill by Reed gave the Majors and early 6-5 edge in the second set, but a 9-2 run by Centre gave them separation from the Majors. Millsaps would then cut into the lead with two consecutive kills by Jolly. Centre would close the set at 4-0 for a 25-15 win.

The Colonels then burst out an 8-1 advantage in the third set. Trying to chisel away at the lead, the Majors made it a 10-7 game halfway through the set. This would be the closest the Majors would come to the Colonels as Centre would hold on for a 25-18 win and sweep the midday contest.

Match 2: Sewanee 3, Millsaps 2 (Sunday)

SEWANEE, Tenn. – In a rematch of a five-set thriller from earlier in October, the Majors found themselves on the wrong end of yet another five-setter against Sewanee (8-8, 4-6 SAA). Richardson set two new career-highs with 39 assists and 16 digs inside Juhan Gymnasium on Sunday.

The Tigers claimed the match (25-17, 21-25, 22-25, 25-18, 15-10).

Reed tallied a team-high 17 kills while Macaluso added in 16 kills of her own. Sophomore defensive specialist Alexia Ardoin added 16 digs of her own.

Freshman outside hitter Anna Capazzera filled up the stat sheet on the hardwood with six kills, five aces, five digs, and two blocks.

Junior libero Hannah Mattke posted a team-high 23 digs for the Majors.

Sewanee used an early 6-2 run to gain breathing room to open the first set. They would then use a pair of 3-0 runs to claim a 13-5 lead. A 4-0 march by the Majors would be propelled by three straight Capazzera aces to cut the deficit to 19-13. However, Sewanee would hold on for a 25-17 win in set one.

In a set that began 6-6, the Majors found points in bunches when a duo of 4-0 runs to help surge to a 25-21 victory to tie the match.

The Majors raced out to a 7-1 advantage in the third set. Later in the set with the Majors up 12-9, Sewanee used four straight points to power ahead and take the lead. Millsaps would then respond with a 7-2 run to retake a 19-15 lead. Another 4-0 streak by Sewanee would tie the match, but the Majors would take set three off the strength of a 5-1 run sparked by a Macaluso kill.

Looking to tame the Tigers, Millsaps jumped out to a 5-1 edge in the fourth set. A 6-0 run by Sewanee would then give them a 9-8 lead. In a closely fought set, Sewanee would close with six consecutive points to finish the fourth victorious, 25-18.

With Millsaps up 5-4 in the decisive final set, Sewanee would gain distance with a 6-1 run. The Majors would fight their way back into the set to cut their deficit to 11-10, but Sewanee would put the match away with another 4-0 burst for the five-set victory.

Millsaps will return to the Hangar Dome for the start of a three-game home stand starting with Rhodes at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 23. Live video and live stats will be provided at gomajors.com.

 
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