Volleyball runs win streak to five with 3-0 win at Johnson

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (September 24, 2022) – The Milligan University volleyball team extended its win streak to five games as the Buffs downed Johnson (Tenn.) 3-0 in Knoxville on Saturday.

The Buffs move into fourth place in the 15-team Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) standings with an 5-1 league record (8-6 overall). Johnson falls 5-6, 3-4 AAC.

Milligan the three-set victory with scores of 25-20, 25-20 and 25-18

The first set saw Milligan build a 15-10 edge before the Royals narrowed the margin to one (15-14) before Greyson Stevens put an end to the Johnson run. Ella Maiden contributed to a pair of late-set blocks as Milligan emerged with a five-point set win to open the match.

The second set was tied at 16 before Milligan took the lead for good. Taylor Pavich had a pair of kills in a late four-point run that helped clinch the set, 25-20.

With Grace Sanderson at the service line, Milligan opened an early six-point lead (10-4) in the third frame. The Royals battled back within two (18-16) late in the set, but Milligan answered with a four-point run that included two more blocks by Maiden.

Maiden posted 10 kills on a .391 hitting percentage with eight total blocks. Pavich recorded eight kills at a .286 clip. Shelby Miller and Stevens both had seven kills and five total blocks.

Kolbie Greene registered 34 assists, 14 digs and two blocks. Paxton Adkins led Milligan's defense with 16 digs. Sanderson finished with 10 digs.

Milligan tied its single-game season high with 14.0 total blocks. The Buffs hit .230 for the match, marking the fifth-straight match of hitting .200 or better.

The Buffs host first-place Bryan on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. The Lions have yet to be defeated in conference play this fall.