Buffs earn well-contested road win at Kentucky Christian

GRAYSON, Ky. (October 5, 2021) – The Milligan University volleyball team battled to a four-set victory at Kentucky Christian on Tuesday evening.

Milligan rises to 8-12 on the season and 6-4 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play. Kentucky Christian falls to 2-14, 2-9 AAC. The Buffs took the four-set match 25-14, 25-27, 25-14, 29-27.

The Buffs scored eight of the first 10 points in set one and led by as many as 13 points (22-9) on their way to a double-digit set one win. Five different players combined for 15 kills at a .364 hitting percentage in the frame.

Set two saw Milligan lead by as many as seven points late in the set, but the Knights rallied back and survived four set points en route to a 28-26 win to even the match at one apiece.

The Buffs jumped out to an 8-2 lead in set three and cruised to another 25-14 win in set three. KCU established its largest lead in the fourth set at 16-11 and led 22-18 late. Abigail Byington converted three clutch kills late and combined for a block with Carley Gregry to help the Buffs pull even at 23 and 24. The Buffs survived three a set points with Byington, Sarah Grace Larkey and Taylor Pavich recording kills to keep the set going.

Ella Maiden gave the Buffs a 28-27 lead and an error from KCU handed the Buffs a 29-27 set win.

Gregory smacked a season-high .20 kills on a .333 hitting percentage with three total blocks. Maiden had a dozen kills on at a .320 clip and five block. Byington finished with 11 kills on a .500 hitting percentage.

Paxton Adkins had 16 digs and three aces while Ashelyn Vandergriff logged 15 digs, seven assists and two aces. Pavich dished 41 assists, had five kills and two aces.

Milligan established a season-high for kills in a four-set match (58) and hit .281 on the evening.

The Buffs head back to Kentucky Thursday night to take on Union in AAC play.