BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University men's volleyball got off to a hot start on Tuesday night against Belmont Abbey College. However, the Crusaders closed well, taking the final two sets to win the match 3-2.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Belmont Abbey 3, King 2 (21-25, 25-15, 20-25, 25-19, 15-10)
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 1-12, 1-4 Conference Carolinas; Belmont Abbey 8-2, 4-1 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- Warren Davis and Kolten Soon got the Tornado off to a hot start, posting five kills apiece in the opening set as the Tornado hit .480 in the set.
- Belmont Abbey hit .500 in the opening set, but the Tornado posted three more kills and two more aces to hold the edge.
- An Aiden Olson kill sparked a 4-0 run that put the Tornado ahead 12-8. Olson later served an ace on the run and Kellan Kennedy capped the spurt with a kill.
- King took a 15-9 lead following a 3-0 spurt behind a kills from Davis and Soon and a Davis ace.
- The Tornado held that advantage before taking the final three points to win the set 25-21 on a Kennedy ace.
Second Set
- The Crusaders turned it up on both ends in the second set, hitting .591 and holding King to a .150 attack percentage.
- Belmont Abbey scored the first two points and extended their lead to four in the early going.
- They held the lead there and pulled away to take the set 25-15.
Third Set
- The King offense rebounded to hi .346 in the third set behind five kills from Davis.
- An Alex Barkley kill sparked a 7-1 run, including the first four straight that gave King the advantage. Davis added a kill before an Olson ace and block from Barkley Kennedy.
- Barkley added another solo block as King took a 14-9 lead.
- The Tornado held the lead there and took the set 25-20 on a Barkley kill.
Fourth Set
- Belmont Abbey jumped out with the first three points, but King came back to even the score at five.
- However, the Crusaders came back with a 3-0 run to take an 11-7 advantage.
- King couldn't get any closer as the Crusaders took the set 25-19.
Fifth Set
- Belmont Abbey scored the first three points and opened up a 7-3 advantage.
- King fought back and pulled within 9-8 on a Sean Haberthy kill.
- However, the Crusaders scored the next four points and took the set 15-10 to take the match 3-2.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Davis led King with 19 kills and a .342 attack percentage. He added six digs and one block.
- Barkley followed with eight kills.
- Olson handed out 43 assists and added nine digs.
FOR THE FOES
- Matthew Staskunas led Belmont Abbey with 12 kills and seven digs.
- Jibriel Elhaddad added 11 kills, six digs and eight blocks.
- Zach Puentes chipped in with 10 kills and four digs.
- Joseph Morris handed out 41 assists and added nine digs and seven blocks.
UP NEXT
- King stays at home to take on Saint Xavier University on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.
- Belmont Abbey travels to Lees-McRae College on Friday night.
