Buffs make it eight straight wins

MONTREAT, N.C. (Nov. 3, 2020) – Carley Gregory set a new career high of 22 kills and needed just four sets to do it, as the Milligan University women's volleyball team won its eighth straight match, 19-25, 25-18, 25-12, 25-16, Tuesday night at Montreat. The victory saw the Buffaloes (11-4) complete the season sweep over Montreat after winning in straight sets at home earlier in October.

Milligan improved to 11-4 this season and opened up a one-game lead over third place in the Appalachian Athletic Conference North Division. The Buffs are 2 ½ games back of North leader Bryan.

Facts and figures

Gregory's 22 kills helped her eclipse 200 kills for the season (202), which has her ranked in the NAIA top 25. She posted two better than her previous career high, which came in five sets against Brenau in win No. 2 of the Buffs' current eight-match winning streak.

Julia Codispoti followed with nine kills while Elise Gregory tallied five kills and 20 digs. Taylor Pavich had 33 assists and Layla Grant led the defense with 21 digs. Ashelyn Vandergriff also had a productive night with double digits in digs with 10.

Set by set

Montreat took control of the match after a 10-3 set-ending run gave the Cavaliers the lead with a victory in the opening frame. It would be short-lived, though, as Milligan came back to tie the match after quickly going ahead by seven, the eventual difference, in the second set, then blew the match open in the third set.

Codispoti earned two kills and C. Gregory had one when the Buffs finished the second set on with three straight kills on the final three points. Using that momentum, E. Gregory got to serve the first 13 points of the third set as Milligan went on a 12-0 run to start it. Half of those points came by way of Milligan kills, with C. Gregory earning four of the six.

The rest of set three went fairly even, and that theme followed into set four when Milligan finally broke ahead for the final time at the midpoint. With the score all knotted at 12-12, a kill by E. Gregory started a 6-0 run which again saw C. Gregory tally several kills in a short stretch.

Milligan closed the match on a 13-4 run.

Up next

Milligan stays on the road for two more matches, starting with Bluefield Saturday at 11 a.m. and continuing with Truett McConnell next Monday at 6:30 p.m. The Buffs will then be home for their last two matches of the regular season: Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14. Home matches can be followed online at milliganbuffs.com.