SENATOBIA, Miss. – The Millsaps volleyball team looked in mid-season form early as they faced off against Northwestern Mississippi Community College downing the Rangers, 3-1 on Wednesday.
The Majors grabbed the first two sets and closed the match with an impressive, 25-12 defensive showing in the fourth set inside Howards Coliseum (25-16, 25-15, 22-25, 25-12).
Millsaps (0-0) was in charge early in the first set, taking a quick 11-3 advantage. Sophomore
Ally Baer led off the match with the opening kill. Playing at a highly intense level from the jump, the Majors would power through the Ranger's defense. Seeing the lead shrink to eight points at 13-5, senior
Brenna Macaluso sparked a 6-1 Major run. The Majors would cruise to a 25-16 first set triumph.
Looking comfortable in Northwestern (1-5) territory, the Majors attacked first once again in the second set, leading 5-0 courtesy of back-to-back Macaluso aces. Baer and Macaluso then teamed up to stall an NWCC attack with a block at 11-3.
NWCC would later call a timeout, but the deficit would grow to 14-4 soon after. The Rangers tried to make a comeback late in the set with a pair of 4-0 runs and pulled within 18-12, but could not adapt after a Millsaps timeout. Sophomore
Olivia Danos utilized back-to-back aces to put the set out of reach and give the Majors a 25-15 set win.
Set three saw the Rangers make adjustments and grab a 3-0 lead. However, back-to-back junior
Anna Capezzera kills ending at 4-4 and trailing 17-15 would give hopes of sweeping the match. The teams would battle back-and-forth and trade points, but the Rangers would claim three of the final four tallies to win set three, 25-22.
The Rangers scored the first two points as the fourth set got underway. However, the Majors pushed back and built a 10-5 cushion. Both teams would trade points with Northwest getting as close as 15-9 down. Millsaps then surged to the finish with a 10-3 burst, claiming the fourth set, 25-12. Baer sent a kill down the middle through the block to end the hard-fought, exhibition match.
The Millsaps volleyball team will conclude its exhibition slate by hosting Tougaloo College inside the Hangar Dome, beginning at 12 p.m. on Saturday. Live video and live stats will be 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.
