Box Score DUE WEST, S.C. – For the third straight year the King University women's volleyball team reached the Conference Carolinas Tournament semifinals, and for the second straight year they faced Limestone College in the Final Four that was hosted by Erskine College. The Tornado took the first set, but couldn't reach their third straight final as they fell to the Saints 3-1.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Limestone 3, King 1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-22)
LOCATION: Belk Arena, Due West, S.C.
RECORDS: King 19-13, Limestone 19-6
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Tornado went on the attack early, taking an 8-3 lead following a Grace Underwood kill in the first set. The Saints came back to get within three, but King answered with a 6-3 run to stretch the lead. Limestone made a run late, but Ashleigh Manke gave King the 25-21 win with a kill.
- The second was tight early until Limestone gradually took an 18-14 lead. King later scored three straight points to pull within 20-18, but the Saints held off the rally and took the set 25-19.
- Limestone used a 5-0 run to break a 10-10 tie in the third set, but King tried to comeback late. Lauren Willoughby pulled King within 24-23 with a kill, but the Saints got the next point to take the set 25-23.
- King grabbed the lead early in the third set, but Limestone answered with a 4-0 run to take the lead. The Saints continued the roll, extending their advantage to 14-9. The Tornado trailed 17-11 before Olivia Underwood sparked the King offense with a kill.
- King eventually evened the score at 18, but Limestone followed with three straight points. King again got within one at 23-22, but the Saints scored the last two points to take the set 25-22 and the match 3-1.
- Manke led the King offense with 14 kills and 12 digs for the double-double.
- Willoughby followed with 13 kills and Grace Underwood added nine kills and five blocks.
- Olivia Underwood handed out 35 assists.
- Amy Serowski led the defense with 29 digs while Casey Williams added 11.
FOR THE FOES
- Darla Svoboda led Limestone with 16 kills while Rycki Ebert followed with 14 and 12 digs.
- Karli Acree chipped in with 11 kills and 16 digs while Natalie Tucker handed out 39 assists and registered 11 digs for the double-double.
- Jessica Onken posted 18 digs to lead the Saints.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The 29 digs for Serowski set a new career-high for the sophomore.
- The Tornado had seven seniors, Manke, Willoughby, Olivia Underwood, Grace Underwood, Sarah Collins, Hanna Bug Smyth and Casey Williams closed their careers on Saturday night.
