Buffs end three-game spring opening weekend with win against Montreat

MONTREAT, N.C. (March 13, 2021) – The Milligan University women's volleyball team opened the spring season with a three-game weekend on the road, ending with a 3-1 (25-19, 25-16, 21-25, 25-17) win over Montreat College Saturday.

With standings continuing from the fall season, the Buffs moved to 13-9 on the season, 12-7 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. 

Sarah Grace Larkey led Milligan in kills against Montreat with 11, with Carley Gregory, Greyson Stevens and Jerika Emert tallying nine, eight and seven, respectively. Taylor Pavich led in assists with 19, while Sydney Hurd followed up with 16 assists for the Buffs. Layla Grant and Paxton Adkins brought in 13 and 11 digs respectively, with Grant also notching three aces of her own.

Both teams kept the score close in the first set, until a 12-4 run from the Buffs, led by Cameron McConnell and Grant, put them in the lead and gave them the set.

A similar story came in the way for set two, but the Buffs went 8-3 to take the set from 10-9 to 18-12. The Cavaliers would only score four more points before being put away by the Buffs.

However, set three would see both teams trade the lead back and forth five times before the Bears would take the set 25-21.

Montreat would even start the final set with a 12-7 lead, but their attempted comeback would be laid to rest by the Buffs with a 17-4 run, helmed by Hurd and Grant, to give Milligan the win.

The Buffs fell in their two bouts against Bob Jones University 3-1 (16-25, 25-23, 24-26, 14-25) and Truett-McConnell University 3-0 (11-25, 19-25, 21-25) earlier in the weekend. Gregory and Abigail Byington both notched 12 kills against Bob Jones, and Pavich made 31 assists (18 against Bob Jones, 13 against Truett-McConnell) on the day.

The Buffs will continue their spring season on the road as they take on Catawba College on March 17 at 2 p.m.