ATLANTA – The momentum continued for the Millsaps volleyball team as the program ended Day One of the Oglethorpe Stormy Petrel Classic with a pair of victories on Friday. The Majors dispatched Piedmont University in straight sets and came right back to down LaGrange College, 3-1 on the Pinholster Court inside the Dorough Field House.

Match One vs. Piedmont (3-0) 
Senior middle hitter Alyssa Jolly was strong with a match-high 10 kills, while adding seven digs and three blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Brenna Macaluso posted nine kills, nine digs and three blocks. Additionally, junior setter Mary Tebbe dished out 26 assists and added an impressive four aces, while junior right side hitter Bre Reed was nearly unstoppable with eight kills, four blocks and a 0.438 attack percentage.

Millsaps (3-2) swept past Piedmont (0-5), 25-13, 25-18, 25-15 in the match, including a stretch of never trailing during the first two sets.

The Majors came out focused grabbing a 5-1 advantage to open the day. Millsaps maintained control throughout the first set and led by as many 10 points at 19-9 and 20-10, the latter following a block by Reed and Jolly.

After claiming the first set 25-13, Millsaps didn't let off the gas with a 3-0 start in the second. The Lions corrected course a bit as the foes battled back to an 11-10 deficit.

Millsaps retaliated with a 7-0 run to take control of the set, which was punctuated by a Macaluso attack. The teams fought even, but a final Macaluso strike ended any hope of a miraculous comeback, with the Majors winning 25-18.

Piedmont built a slim 9-7 lead to begin the third set, but Millsaps responded quickly. Tebbe provided an ace to put the Majors ahead for good at 10-9. Her ace was sandwiched between a 5-0 run.

The Lions cut into the Major advantage to make it 16-13, but Millsaps tallied six straight points to put an end to any potential drama. A freshman Anna Capezzera kill, Jolly kill and Piedmont error ended the match at 25-15 in a sweep.

Match Two vs. LaGrange (3-1) 
A balanced attack powered Millsaps (4-2) in the second match of the day over LaGrange College (0-4), (25-15, 24-26, 25-12, 25-12).

Junior right side hitter Regan Cooper led all attackers with 11 kills, while both Macaluso and Reed dropped in 10 kills. Capezzera, Macaluso and Tebbe added four aces each, while Mattke totaled 20 digs and Tebbe also garnered 31 assists.

The Majors were able to overcome a 3-0 and 11-8 start in the first set. Tied at 13-13, Millsaps rallied off an incredible 10-0 burst to seize control and claim a 1-0 match lead. Macaluso finished off the Panthers with a seeing-eye ace.

The second set went in favor of LaGrange, 26-24. It looked to be a runaway for the Panthers, leading by as much as 17-10, but Millsaps showed grit and battled back. In fact, the Majors grabbed a 22-21 edge thanks to a Reed kill. LaGrange recovered and claimed the back-and-forth set with a late 3-0 rally.

Millsaps reset and dominated sets three and four, securing identical 25-12 wins. The third saw the Majors break from an 8-7 struggle to counter with an 8-0 flurry punctuated by another Macaluso kill. Millsaps cruised to end the set.

In the final frame, the Majors battled past a 9-7 struggle and clawed their way to 14-7 advantage. A total of four aces followed, including yet another one by Macaluso to end the contest in a cool four sets.

Millsaps will look to close out the Stormy Petrel Classic victorious with a matchup against Maryville College at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday. Live video and live stats will be provided at gomajors.com.
 
 
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