ATLANTA — The Millsaps volleyball team opened conference action over the weekend at Dorough Field House on the campus of Oglethorpe University. The Majors bested Oglethorpe before falling to Sewanee and Southwestern.
Match 1: Millsaps 3, Oglethorpe 2
(24-26, 25-23, 19-25, 15-9)
Senior Ally Baer led the offensive charge with 11 kills and added seven aces to contribute.
Junior Sandy Bourgeois was a defensive standout, recording 23 digs. classmate Amelia Bohl added depth to the attack with eight kills and three service aces.
Freshman Rachel Zamjahn facilitated the offense effectively, dishing out 37 assits, 13 digs, and 10 digs.
The opening set saw a tightly contested battle, marked by a series of scoring exchanges and tactical plays.
The Majors gained early momentum with a 3-point streak, highlighted by kills from Baer and a service ace by Baer at 16-13.
Sophomore Zoë LaCaze contributed significantly with multiple kills, pushing Millsaps to a 24-20 lead.
However, the Stormy Petrels responded with resilience, capitalizing on late attack errors from the Majors to tie the score at 24-24, before clinching the set 26-24 with a service ace to complete the comeback.
The second set began with a strong start for the Majors, Danos set the tone with a service ace.
Bourgeois further extended the early lead with two consecutive service aces, putting Millsaps ahead at 5-2.
Despite a mid-set rally by the Petrels, which saw them briefly take a 13-8 lead, the Majors responded decisively.
Husby and Bohl, with substantial contributions from Zamjahn in assists, led a comeback that tied the score at 17-17.
Millsaps then took control, with Baer delivering a crucial service ace at 22-19, and Bohl securing the set with a final kill, closing the period at 25-23.
Millsaps started the third set strong, with Bohl contributing three kills early and two service aces from her extending their lead to 7-1.
Oglethorpe responded with a series of points, taking advantage of several Millsaps attack errors, narrowing the gap to 12-11.
Despite Baer's service ace and Zamjahn's kill keeping Millsaps in contention, the Petrels surged ahead late in the period, securing a 25-19 win.
Millsaps opened the fourth set with a commanding start, taking a 3-0 lead with contributions from Danos and senior Trista Naquin.
A significant turning point occurred when Zamjahn facilitated a series of successful plays, including a kill by Baer, which extended the lead to 15-5.
Despite a brief rally from Oglethorpe, senior Mallory Richardson and Baer powered through the late stages, with Richardson securing key points, to seal a decisive 25-14 victory in the set for Millsaps.
The fifth set began with Oglethorpe taking an early lead at 2-0, capitalizing on a service ace by Autumn Lilly.
Millsaps responded swiftly, with Bohl's kill igniting a run that saw the team level the score at 2-2.
The Majors then went on a 7-1 scoring spree, highlighted by a service ace from Bohl and a series of attack errors from the Petrels, moving ahead 8-4.
Zamjahn's service ace at 14-9 capped a decisive stretch, and a combined block by Bohl and Naquin secured the 15-9 victory in the final set.
Match 2: Sewanee 3, Millsaps 1
(17-25, 23-25, 25-22, 20-25)
Baer posted an impressive 14 kills on 42 attempts, contributing significantly to her team's offensive output with a total of 17 points.
Bourgeois anchored the defense, amassing 30 digs over the course of four games.
Freshman Lily Fredieu was effective from the service line with five aces and also added 15 digs on defense.
Zamjahn facilitated the offense with 33 assists, distributing the ball efficiently across the court.
The first set opened with Millsaps and Sewanee exchanging early points, highlighted by Tatum Husby's effective kill to even the score.
Despite the Majors' efforts, including a service ace from Baer and consistent setups by Zamjahn, Sewanee capitalized on a series of attack errors to pull ahead.
Richardson delivered timely attacks, but Sewanee maintained a steady lead, closing the set at 25-17 after a kill by the Tigers.
The second set began with a quick kill by Naquin, assisted by Zamjahn, setting the tone for a competitive exchange.
Sewanee then built a 4-1 lead, but the Majors responded with a service ace from Baer, narrowing the gap to 8-7.
As the set continued, Zamjahn recorded multiple assists, including a critical one to Husby, leveling the score at 10.
Despite Millsaps taking a late 23-22 lead with the help of key kills from Baer and Zamjahn, Sewanee closed the set with a 3-0 run to edge out a 25-23 victory.
The third set began with a challenging start for the Majors, falling behind 5-0 after a series of attack errors. However, the resilience of players like Baer and Husby helped turn the tide.
Danos contributed significantly with an ace and a series of points that brought the score to a 10-10 tie.
Millsaps then capitalized on momentum, executing a 6-0 run with key blocks from Naquin and LaCaze to extend their lead.
Despite a late push from Sewanee, Millsaps secured the set 25-22, highlighted by crucial kills and a service ace from Zamjahn.
The fourth set began with Millsaps taking an early lead at 2-0 with a kill from LaCaze and an attack error by Sewanee.
The Majors continued to find success through strategic plays, as Zamjahn facilitated multiple scoring opportunities, including consecutive kills by Baer, and a service ace from Fredieu, contributing to an 8-4 advantage.
Despite their efforts, Millsaps faced a late surge from Sewanee, who capitalized on a series of attack errors and strong offensive plays from Sewanee ultimately closing the set and match with a 25-20 victory.
Match 3: Southwestern 3, Millsaps 1
(27-25, 15-25, 19-25, 18-25)
Naquin recorded five total blocks, contributing significantly to the team's defensive efforts. Danos excelled at the service line, delivering four aces over the match.
Baer led the offensive charge with 10 kills and a hitting percentage of .261.
Zamjahn facilitated the attack with 25 assists while also adding eight digs to her performance.
The opening set saw Millsaps surge ahead with a commanding start, highlighted by Danos serving two consecutive aces and Naquin adding a kill to establish an early 4-0 lead.
Zamjahn demonstrated exceptional playmaking, recording multiple assists as the Majors extended their advantage to 10-4, with Laila Fredieu contributing a service ace and Ally Baer registering a kill.
Despite a late rally from the Pirates that tied the score at 24-24 LaCaze delivered crucial points, including the decisive kill that secured a 27-25 victory for Millsaps in the first set.
The second set began with Southwestern asserting early dominance through a series of effective plays, to take a 5-1.
The Majors responded with a kill by Madelynn Sasser, assisted by Zamjahn, but struggled to close the gap as the Pirates capitalized on multiple attack errors.
Despite a late effort by Millsaps with a kill by Baer off of Zamjahn's set, Southwestern closed the set with a 25-15 victory.
The third set began with Millsaps seizing early momentum as Danos delivered two service aces, helping the Majors jump to a 4-0 lead.
Husby contributed with multiple kills, supported by Sandy Bourgeois and Zamjahn's assists, keeping Millsaps competitive as the score reached 7-6.
However, despite Baer's efforts with key kills, Southwestern responded with strong attacks ultimately overcoming Millsaps' early advantage to take the set 25-19.
The fourth set began with Southwestern seizing momentum, jumping to a 5-0 lead fueled capitalizing on Millsaps' errors.
The Majors responded with a brief rally as Naquin and Baer executed kills, reducing the deficit to 10-5.
A notable effort from Husby, who recorded consecutive kills late in the set, along with a pair of kills by Zamjahn, narrowed Southwestern's lead, but the visitors closed the set 25-18 after Jurgens' decisive kill.
Looking ahead, Millsaps will face Centre College on Saturday, September 27. The match is set to begin at 12 p.m. in Mount Berry, Ga.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps College volleyball program follow the Majors on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook and visit gomajors.com.
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.
