Box Score WISE, Va. – The King University women's volleyball team opened the 2021 season they way they left off the 2020 season, with a win. The Tornado used runs late in each set to sweep region rival UVA Wise on the road and earn their 15th straight victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 3, UVA Wise 0 (25-19, 26-24, 25-18)
LOCATION: Prior Convocation Center; Wise, Va.
RECORDS: King 1-0; UVA Wise 0-1
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- Hailee Blankenship gave King a 10-8 lead in the early going, but the Cavaliers came back and evened the score at 11.
- The teams continued to trade points until UVA Wise took an 18-16 lead.
- Blankenship then came up with another kill for King and a Cavalier miscue evened the score before a Hannah Rogers ace gave King the lead.
- UVA Wise took a timeout, and out of the break, King rolled off five straight points to cap an 8-0 run.
- Rogers served up two more aces on the run while Abigail Belcher recorded a kill and block to give King a 24-18 lead.
- Following a Cavalier point, Allie Zimmerman gave King the 25-19 win with a kill.
Second Set
- A Blankenship ace gave the Tornado a 4-1 lead, but the Cavaliers fought back and evened the score at six.
- Rogers came up with another ace, giving King a 19-17 lead as UVA Wise called for timeout.
- Out of the break, King scored back-to-back points to take a 21-17 lead following a Blankenship kill.
- However, UVA Wise then went on a 7-3 run, taking a chance at set point with a 24-23 lead.
- The Tornado called for a timeout, and out of the break, Abigale Jayne evened the score with a kill.
- Following a UVA Wise error and timeout, Georgia Davis gave King the 26-24 victory with a kill.
Third Set
- The final set was even at 16 as the teams traded the lead throughout the frame.
- Blankenship started a 5-0 Tornado run with a kill as Jayne put King head 21-16 with a kill.
- Jayne then gave King a chance at match point with consecutive kills as the Tornado took the 25-18 win on Cavalier miscue to sweep the match.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Jayne led the Tornado with 10 kills, nine digs and two blocks.
- Blankenship followed with eight kills and five digs.
- Davis registered six kills, 10 assists and seven digs.
- Claire Wilson led the back row with 13 digs while Katie Harless handed out 12 assists and accounted for 10 digs.
- Brittney Ramsey led the Tornado with five blocks, including two solo stuffs.
FOR THE FOES
- Kelsey Green led UVA Wise with nine kills and 12 digs.
- Kalee Scarce led the defense with 15 digs to go along with five kills.
- Zoe Avery handed out 16 assists while Rylee Way accounted for 12 helpers and seven digs.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Wilson's 13 digs sets a career-high.
UP NEXT
- King returns to the court on Friday when they host the King University Invitational. The Tornado will take on Mars Hill University at 7:30 p.m. on Friday before facing off against Emory & Henry College and Young Harris College on Saturday.
- UVA Wise travels to Tusculum University on Tuesday night.
