BELMONT, N.C. -- The King University men's volleyball team dropped a road matchup Thursday night to Belmont Abbey, 3-1.
Warren Davis and
Jackson Carroll both had 11 kills to lead the Tornado attack.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Belmont Abbey 3, King 1
LOCATION: Wheeler Center; Belmont, N.C.
RECORDS: King 8-10, 3-2 Conference Carolinas; Belmont Abbey 4-8, 3-2 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- After going back-and-forth early, the Crusaders got took advantage of a Tornado service error to take a 6-4 lead, eventually extending it to 12-7 on a service ace.
- The Tornado fell behind 14-9, before AJ Drooker picked up a kill to get to within 14-10. The Crusaders responded with a kill of their own, taking a 15-10 lead into a timeout.
- The teams would trade points before the Crusaders recorded consecutive kills to take a 19-12 lead, with the Tornado calling timeout.
- After the timeout, the Crusaders got their third consecutive kill, stretching their lead to 20-12.
- The Tornado were able to stop the run, with Kellan Kennedy and Drooker getting back-to-back blocks to bring King to within 20-14.
- After a service error, the Tornado would again get consecutive points, but the Crusaders were eventually able to pull away, taking the set 25-19.
Second Set
- The Tornado started the second set on the right foot, scoring the first three points, including a block by Davis and Kellan Kennedy, as well as a kill by Jack Sarnowski to make the score 3-0.
- Belmont Abbey was able to battle back, using a 3-0 run to tie the set, then go ahead 10-8 before a service error stopped the scoring run.
- After the Tornado tied the set at 14, the Crusaders would go on a 4-0 scoring run to open up an 18-14 advantage.
- King was able to respond, scoring a pair of quick points, including a service ace courtesy of Carroll, though a pair of Belmont Abbey points gave them a 20-16 lead and forced King to take a timeout.
- After the timeout, the Tornado would score four of the next five points, pulling to within 21-20 on a Kennedy kill.
- The Tornado were able to tie the set at 24, but Belmont Abbey scored the final two points, taking the set 26-24.
Third Set
- The Tornado took an early 5-2 lead, eventually going ahead 8-5.
- Belmont Abbey would score three points in a row to tie the set at eight.
- The Tornado would then score four of the next five points, with Carroll and Drooker contributing a pair of kills to go ahead 12-9.
- After the Crusaders got to within 12-11, the Tornado scored three straight points, with Carroll adding a pair of kills to take a 15-11 advantage into a timeout.
- The Tornado didn't skip a beat coming out of the timeout, scoring six of the next eight points to take a 21-13 lead.
- The run continued for the Tornado, as Kennedy added a kill to add to the lead.
- After a Crusaders point, King took three of the final four points, winning the set 25-15.
Fourth Set
- The Tornado took an early 3-1 lead, with Sarnowski and Aaron Milstead teaming up for a block, but the Crusaders would go on a 6-0 scoring run to go ahead 7-3.
- The Crusaders were able to stretch their lead to 12-5, forcing a Tornado timeout.
- King would score three of the first four points out of the timeout, pulling to within 13-8.
- After the Crusaders took a 19-11 lead, the Tornado would score the next four points, pulling within 19-15.
- The Tornado would eventually fall behind 23-17, but rallied back, scoring the next six points to tie the set at 23.
- Belmont Abbey was able to score the final two points, taking the set 25-23, and the match 3-1.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Davis and Carroll both had 11 kills on the night, with Davis adding seven digs.
- Justin Sawyer also had seven digs, while Milstead had a pair of service aces.
- Kennedy had nine block assists on the night.
FOR THE FOES
- Matthew Staskunas had 15 kills to lead the Belmont Abbey attack, along with three digs and a pair of blocks.
- Matteo Miselli had 11 kills, along with four blocks and five digs while Alex Winiarczyk posted 10 kills.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado will continue their road trip Saturday at George Mason.
- Belmont Abbey will host Fort Valley State Friday night.
