BIRMINGHAM Ala. – The Millsaps volleyball team (4-8, 4-8 SAA) ended its season in thrilling fashion with a 3-2 comeback victory at No. 10 Birmingham Southern (8-2, 8-2 SAA) on Saturday. The Majors played a doubleheader and were bested, 3-0 in the first match.

Match One: 0-3 (12-25, 20-25, 18-25)

Alyssa Jolly had a team-high nine kills, while Hannah Mattke led the Majors with 15 digs in Match One.

Birmingham-Southern jumped out to a 9-3 advantage in the opening set. The Majors fought back to make it an 11-8 contest. The Panthers responded with a 14-4 run for a 25-12 set one win.

In set two both teams played evenly in the beginning for a score of 12-11 in favor of the Panthers. BSC went on a 4-0 run until it was halted by a kill from Gabby Deas that initiated a 6-0 run for the Majors to give them an 18-16 lead. With the game tied at 19-19, a 5-0 flurry from BSC boosted them to a 25-20 victory in set two.

Midway through the third set, both teams found themselves tied at 12-12. A quick 4-2 run gave the Panthers breathing room in the deciding set. Up 18-16, Birmingham Southern ended game one on a 7-2 run for a 3-0 match win.

Match Two: 3-2 (20-25, 16-25, 25,15, 25-20, 15-13)

Breanna Macaluso had a superb all-around game with 18 digs and 11 kills in Millsaps' thrilling comeback win in Match Two.

Sophomore Mary Tebbe had a great match setting up her teammates with 40 assists.

Jolly and Deas both had double digit kills with 13 and 12, respectively.

Mattke posted a team-high 37 digs while Emily Herring led the team in blocks with six.

Noelle Coats, Deas, and Mattke all added two service aces for the Majors.

Tied 11-11 in the first set, BSC used a 6-2 run to create separation. The Majors fought their way back into the set when an ace from Jolly, cutting their deficit down to 17-15.

After another mini-run from the Panthers, a block from Bre Reed got the Majors within two points at 22-20. BSC scored three straight points to close out the set for a 25-20 set win.

Both teams traded points for a 7-7 score to start the second. The Panthers gained breathing room via an 11-3 run. A kill from Jolly stopped the Panthers' attack and sparked a 4-0 rally for the Majors to get them back into the game. BSC finished off set two with a 7-2 run to propel them to a 25-16 win.

A kill from Reed punctuated a 7-2 run to start the third set for Millsaps. BSC responded with its own 7-2 run of their own to tie the set at 9-9. Later on in the set, a block from Jolly and Reed at the end of 6-0 run was enough to get the Majors their first set victory of the day at 25-15.

Trying to even up the match at 2-2, Millsaps exhibited an inspired effort. With the match tied at 9-9, a Macaluso kill sparked a 3-0 run to give the Majors separation. BSC fought their way back into the set, and cut the advantage down to 20-19. Three attack errors from the Panthers buoyed the Majors to a 25-20 set four victory.

In the fifth and final set of the season, BSC jumped out to a 6-2 lead. A kill from Macaluso ended a 7-3 run for the Majors to tie the game up at 9-9. Down 13-11, a Panther attack error followed by a Deas kill and back-to-back strikes from Jolly punctuated the comeback effort and secure a 15-13 win to seal the match.


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