BELMONT, N.C. – The King University men's volleyball team won the first set at Belmont Abbey College on Friday night, but the Crusaders came back. Belmont Abbey won the final three sets to take the match 3-1.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Belmont Abbey 3, King 1 (24-26, 25-20, 25-22, 25-20)
LOCATION: Wheeler Center; Belmont, N.C.
RECORDS: King 7-8, 4-5 Conference Carolinas; Belmont Abbey 7-4, 4-2 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- A pair of kills from Joshua Kim and Aaron Milstead gave King an early 3-1 lead as the Tornado held that advantage in the early going.
- The Tornado later took an 18-14 lead following a kill from Kim and Belmont Abbey miscue.
- Belmont Abbey to even the score at 19, 20, 21, and again at 24 before a Douglas Florencio kill.
- A block from Florencio and Jackson Carroll gave King the 26-24 victory.
Second Set
- A Diego Marcano kill gave King an early 2-0 lead and a Florencio kill put the Tornado up 7-5 before the Crusaders came back.
- Belmont Abbey scored five of the next six points to take a 10-8 lead.
- The Tornado worked their way back and a Carroll ace evened the tally at 14 before a block from Kim and Florencio tied the score at 15.
- However, Belmont Abbey scored three straight points and pulled away to take the set 25-20.
Third Set
- Belmont Abbey jumped out to a 7-3 lead before Kim and Marcano recorded back-to-back kills for the Tornado.
- A block from Milstead and Kim pulled King within 10-9, but the Crusaders scored back-to-back points.
- The Tornado worked their way back and evened the score at 19 on a Kim solo block, and again at 21 on a block from Milstead and Marcano.
- Kim came up with a kill to tie the score at 22, but Belmont Abbey scored the final three points to take the set 25-22.
Fourth Set
- Belmont Abbey looked to gain separation in the middle of the fourth set, using a 4-1 run to take a 16-12 advantage.
- The Tornado couldn't recover as the Crusaders took the set 25-20 and the match 301.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Kim led the Tornado with 12 kills, five digs and five blocks.
- Milstead accounted for nine kills and four blocks.
- Marcano posted seven kills and seven digs while Florencio chipped in with 7 kills and five blocks.
- JT Deppe handed out 31 assists and added eight digs.
- Noah Melendez posted eight digs as well.
FOR THE FOES
- Andrew Kohut and Mattea Miselli led Belmont Abbey with 18 kills apiece.
- Kohut added seven digs and Miselli accounted for six digs.
- Brian Long chipped in with 12 kills while Riley Milkey posted seven blocks.
- Brennan Davis handed out 51 assists and Daniel Cerqua accounted for 13 digs.
UP NEXT
- King returns to the court on Tuesday at Lincoln Memorial University. First serve from Harrogate, Tenn., is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
- Belmont Abbey hosts Ball State University on Saturday afternoon.
