Volleyball splits Saturday tri-match

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (October 2, 2021) – The Milligan University volleyball team earned an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) win over Columbia (S.C.) and dropped a nonconference match to Cumberland in a tri-match at the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse on Saturday.

The Buffs moved to 7-12 on the season and 5-4 in league play.

Milligan 3, Columbia 0 (25-10, 25-14, 25-12)

The Buffs snapped a two-game AAC skid with a convincing win over Columbia. The Buffs built commanding leads early in all three sets and took care of business with a three-set win.

Milligan racked up 36 kills on with a season-high .310 hitting percentage. The Buffs excelled at the service line with 14 aces, their most in any game all season.

Ella Maiden notched 10 kills at a .643 hitting percentage with four total blocks. Carley Gregory had six kills. Greyson Stevens, Sarah Grace Larkey and Jericka Emert had four kills apiece.

Ashelyn Vandergriff set season-highs in assists (15) and aces (five). Taylor Pavich logged 12 assists.

Layla Grant led the Buffs' back line with 16 digs and had three aces. Paxton Adkins also had three aces and chipped in seven digs.

Cumberland 3, Milligan 0 (14-25, 16-25, 19-25)

In the afternoon finale, Cumberland handed the Buffs a three-set loss to close out the tri-match 2-0.

Maiden led the charge for the Buffs with five kills and six total blocks.

Adkins had 15 digs and Grant recorded 10. Pavich had 10 assists.

The Buffs are on the road all next week as they travel to AAC foes Kentucky Christian (Tuesday), Union (Thursday) and Johnson (Tenn.) (Saturday).