BRISTOL, Tenn. — King University opened strong inside the Student Center Complex on Saturday afternoon, but Emmanuel College's balanced offense and late-set execution proved decisive as the Tornado fell 3–1 (18–25, 27–25, 25–21, 25–22). King controlled the first set and battled through tight moments in the second and fourth, but Emmanuel's .255 hitting and four players with 9+ kills helped the Lions secure the Conference Carolinas win.
The loss moves King to 3–8 (0–5 Conference Carolinas), while Emmanuel improves to 5–9 (2–4 Conference Carolinas).
King Strikes First with a Confident Opening Set
The Tornado came out sharp in Set One, hitting .125 while holding Emmanuel to .091. Colton Bueter and Carson Pliapol sparked the early offense, combining for 7 kills in the frame. King controlled the tempo from the service line and never trailed, closing the set 25–18 to take a 1–0 match lead.
Emmanuel Edges Out a Tight Second Set
Set Two turned into a back-and-forth battle featuring six ties and four lead changes. King hit .306 in the frame—its best percentage of the match—behind strong swings from Bueter, Pliapol, and Dalton Claiborne. But Emmanuel found late momentum behind Aidan Feeney and Luke Wilson, who combined for 31 kills on the night. The Lions escaped with a 27–25 win to even the match at 1–1.
Lions Take Control in the Middle Frames
Emmanuel's offense settled in during the third set, hitting .237 while limiting King to .103. Feeney and Matthieu Bataille fueled the Lions' attack, and setter Greg Bodus kept the offense balanced with 45 assists. King stayed within striking distance but couldn't overcome a late Emmanuel push, falling 25–21.
The Lions carried that momentum into Set Four, hitting a match-best .407. King fought through five ties and kept the frame tight behind Bueter's consistent scoring and Pliapol's back-row defense, but Emmanuel's efficiency at the pins sealed a 25–22 win and the 3–1 match victory.
Emmanuel's Balanced Attack Leads the Way
The Lions showcased depth across the lineup, with four players hitting .190 or better:
- Aidan Feeney: 16 kills, .294 hitting, 16 points
- Luke Wilson: 15 kills, .382 hitting, 18 points
- Matthieu Bataille: 9 kills, .438 hitting, 11 points
- Elek Cumming: 6 kills, 3 blocks, 8.5 points
- Greg Bodus: 45 assists, 10 digs, 4 total blocks
Emmanuel finished with 53 kills, 50 digs, and 14 total blocks.
Tornado Leaders
King produced several strong individual performances despite the loss:
- Colton Bueter: 14 kills, 6 digs, 15.5 points
- Carson Pliapol: 13 kills, 13 digs, 13.5 points
- Dalton Claiborne: 8 kills, .500 hitting, 3 blocks
- Trent Benedict: 5 kills, 2 aces, 9.5 points
- Joao Pedro Ribeiro: 24 assists, 5 digs
- Tristan Brassington: 17 assists, 1 block
King totaled 49 kills, 59 digs, and 8 blocks while hitting .188 as a team.
Up Next
King returns to the Student Center Complex on Wednesday, March 4, hosting North Greenville University at 7:00 p.m. as the Tornado continue their push for their first conference win of the season.
