Volleyball wraps up Mountain Madness

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (August 27, 2021) – The Milligan University volleyball team wrapped up the 13th annual Milligan Mountain Madness weekend with matches against Cumberlands and Blue Mountain in the Steve Lacey Fieldhouse on Saturday.

Cumberlands 3, Milligan 0 (20-25, 16-25, 16-25)

The Patriots' Lily Chapman could not be contained in the Buffs' Saturday opener as she racked up 18 kills with a .350 hitting percentage in the three-set match.

Elise Gregory was a key contributor offensively and defensively as she recorded six kills and 10 digs. Paxton Adkins led Milligan with 23 digs. Taylor Pavich had seven assists and three kills.

Blue Mountain 3, Milligan 1 (26-24, 21-25, 19-25, 20-25)

In the final game of Mountain Madness, Milligan put together one of its grittiest sets of the season with a 26-24 effort to take set one. Trailing 23-19, the Buffs earned serve on a service error and Gregory served up a pair of aces in a five-point Milligan run to take a 24-23 lead. Ella Maiden broke a 24-24 tie and a Blue Mountain error resulted in the Buffs' capturing the first set.

The Buffs led or trailed by two points or fewer in each of the last three sets, but Blue Mountain ended up edging Milligan in the final three sets to take the match.

Carley Gregory racked up a season best 13 kills with a .233 hitting percentage. Maiden had six kills and three total blocks.

Adkins recorded 18 digs, while Cameron McConnell had 14 assists. Pavich notched 4 kills and 12 assists.

Maiden was named to the Mountain Madness All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the event. She tallied 25 kills and 13 total blocks over the Buffs' four matches.  

The Buffs (1-7) are idle next week before wrapping up their nonconference schedule Monday, Sept. 6 at Emory and Henry.