Women’s volleyball bounces back with win at Columbia

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Sept. 19, 2020) – Carley Gregory led a trio of Buffs in the double-digit kill column to help the Milligan University women's volleyball team rebound from their season-opening loss and from a set down Saturday at Columbia. Milligan won in four sets, 19-25, 25-19, 25-9, 25-19.

Gregory posted 15 kills along with five digs. Julia Codispoti and Elise Gregory followed close behind with 12 kills and 10 kills, respectively. Layla Grant led the defensive effort with 18 digs while Sydney Hurd and Taylor Pavich shared the setter duties with 26 assists and 13 assists.

"We are happy to be in the win column," Head Coach Doneva Bays said after the match. "We had a rocky start but had a lot of good and promising things from our play today. We are starting to gel and play like a team."

Milligan's only blemish came in the opening set after Columbia pulled away near the end. The match was even at 11 apiece before the next four points went the Koalas' way to see the first set end 25-19. A similar story happened in the second set as the score was knotted at 9-9 before Milligan won the next four points to pull away.

In the third set, Milligan used a 13-4 run to open things up and pull ahead 2-1 after a quick set. A Pavich kill at 8-8 in the fourth set gave Milligan its final lead as the Buffaloes sealed up the final set 25-19.

Up next, Milligan starts a three-match home stand next week when the Buffs host Tennessee Wesleyan Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The match can be viewed online at milliganbuffs.com.