JACKSON, Miss. – The Millsaps women's volleyball team continued its SAA season with a pair of matches against Centre in the Hangar Dome on Saturday. In match one, Centre (2-4, 2-2 SAA) claimed a 3-2 win while the Majors responded with a resounding 3-0 sweep in the rematch.

MATCH ONE RECAP

Millsaps (1-5, 1-5 SAA) fell in a back-and-forth contest to begin the day, 21-25, 25-22, 25-16, 18-25, 12-15.

Senior Emily Herring led the squad with 16 kills and junior Alyssa Jolly added 12. Setter Mary Tebbe had an incredible match, posting a career-best 42 assists.

Centre looked well on its way to a relatively quick set one victory with a 22-14 edge. However, a 5-0 Major run sparked by three Colonel errors pulled Millsaps back in it.

The teams would trade points the rest of the match before Centre took a 1-0 match lead.

Set two was an impressive display of attack and defense that saw Millsaps jump out to a 12-1 advantage. Centre would claw somewhat back, but Millsaps would maintain course up 19-9. A run of seven consecutive points by the Colonels at the end of the set was too little too late before Millsaps could tie the match at 1-1.

The Majors continued their dominance in the third set with several rallies and were never really threatened as the team claimed a 2-1 control following a 25-16 set win. Centre was just as quick to answer and send the match to a fifth and decisive set after posting a 25-18 winner.

In the fifth set, Millsaps grabbed a 2-0 cushion thanks to a Brenna Macaluso kill. Centre would rally for the next three points, but the Majors would answer later in the set to lead 6-4, punctuated by a Bre Reed kill.

A kill by Jolly and ace by Alexia Ardoin gave the Majors what appeared to be a comfortable 9-6 advantage. However, Centre would string together the next seven points to put Millsaps down 13-9.

The next three points went to the Majors, but Centre closed out the match following a Millsaps error and Colonel ace.

MATCH TWO RECAP

Millsaps returned in the second match of the day with a convincing 25-18, 25-21, 25-18 victory.

Herring posted 14 kills while Macaluso added 12. Assists continued to add up for Tebbe as she dished out 36 helpers.

Set one saw both teams tied a dozen times and trade the lead on seven occasions. Tied at 17-17, a Herring kill sparked an 8-1 burst to power Millsaps to a set one win.

Centre would again provide opposition in the second set, but the Majors would break away with the score tied at 8-8. Three Macaluso kills over the next four Millsaps points gave the needed breathing room to control the set.

With the scoring tightening again at 15-13, three consecutive attack errors by Centre's Madison McCabe was enough to halt any comeback hope. Herring would go on to score the last two Major points to help the team secure a 25-21 set win and a 2-0 overall advantage.

Millsaps would hold leads of 6-1 and 9-2 in the third and cruise to victory. Jolly would end the match with the final kill and give the Majors its first win of the season.

The Majors return to the Hangar Dome when it hosts Rhodes College for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 27. The matches are slated to begin at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. with live video and stats available at gomajors.com.


To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps volleyball program follow the Majors on Twitter and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.