BRISTOL, Tenn. – For the second time in a week, the King University men's volleyball team played a five-set thriller against Fort Valley State University. Just as they did last week, the Tornado held off the Wildcats, taking the fifth set 15-125 and the match 3-2 behind a pair of career performances.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 3, Fort Valley State 2 (25-16, 25-27, 26-24, 24-26, 15-12)
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 5-8; Fort Valley State 1-6
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- A Kellan Kennedy kill started a 3-0 Tornado run with a kill as the Tornado took a 9-5 lead and Fort Valley State took a timeout.
- King looked to out the set out of reach with a run down the stretch as back-to-back AJ Drooker kills and a Warren Davis ace gave King a 20-13 lead as the Wildcats took another timeout.
- Out of the break, King scored two more points to take a 22-13 advantage.
- An Aaron Milstead kill gave King a chance a set point as the Tornado took the set 25-16.
Second Set
- Fort Valley State jumped out to an 8-1 lead behind a 6-0 run before the Tornado called for a timeout.
- King chipped away at the deficit and used a 6-0 run to even the set at 18.
- Jackson Carroll posted four straight kills for the Tornado, including three straight on the run that forced a Wildcat timeout.
- King later took a 24-23 lead, but the Wildcats came back with back-to-back points to regain a 26-25 advantage.
- Fort Valley State then scored the final point to take the set 27-25.
Third Set
- King came back to even the score at 12, but Fort Valley State responded with three straight points to regain the advantage.
- The Tornado later trailed 22-18, but a Drooker kill out of a timeout ignited the Tornado offense.
- Consecutive kills from Kennedy and Carroll evened the tally at 22 following the 4-0 spurt.
- King later fought off one set point as a Drooker kill and ace started a 3-0 run that gave King the set 26-24.
Fourth Set
- Fort Valley State again got off to a hot start, taking a 5-3 lead.
- King pulled within 10-9 on a Davis kill, but the Wildcats responded with five straight points.
- The Tornado continued to fight back and evened the score at 20 on a block from Kennedy and Drooker.
- The teams then traded points until Fort Valley State scored consecutive points to take the set 26-24.
Fifth Set
- A Davis kill and ace followed by a Kennedy kill vaulted King to a 6-4 lead, a lead the Tornado wouldn't relinquish.
- Consecutive kills from Kennedy, Drooker and Carroll stretched the Tornado advantage to 9-5.
- Davis later gave King a 14-9 lead with a kill before the Wildcats called for a timeout.
- Fort Valley State then scored three straight points before a King timeout.
- Out of the break, Davis came up with another kill to give King the set 15-12 and the match 3-2.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Davis led four Tornado in double figures with 19 kills to go along with eight digs.
- Drooker followed with 14 kills while Carroll and Kennedy chipped in with 12 kills apiece.
- Justin Sawyer posted 15 digs to lead the back row while Jack Sarnowski handed out 52 assists.
FOR THE FOES
- Isaiah Fedd led Fort Valley State with 25 kills and eight digs.
- Taviian Martin added 10 kills and six blocks.
- Justin Yates handed out 42 assists and added six digs.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Drooker and Sawyer set career-highs with 14 kills and 15 digs, respectively.
UP NEXT
- King opens Conference Carolinas play on Wednesday against defending Conference Carolinas champion North Greenville University. First serve is slated for 7:00 p.m. in the Student Center Complex.
- Fort Valley State next hosts Reinhardt University on Tuesday night.
