Volleyball hangs tough but falls at AAC-unbeaten Bryan

DAYTON, Tenn. (October 11, 2022) – The Milligan University volleyball team took a set from the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) leaders, Bryan College, but fell 3-1 on the road on Tuesday evening.

The Buffs (12-9, 9-4 AAC) came to Bryan (20-2, 14-0 AAC) ready to play as the Buffs led by three early in the opening frame and never trailed by more the two points. The first set went back and forth as the score was tied at 14, 16, 17, 18 and 19 before Bryan took a 22-20 lead. Ella Maiden posted back-to-back kills and Taylor Pavich recorded an ace to give Milligan a 23-22 edge but Bryan notched the next three points, all kills, to take the set 25-23.

Milligan became the third AAC team all season to take a set off Bryan as the Buffs played to a 25-22 win to even the overall score at one. Thee Buffs established an 11-6 lead and held off Bryan as the Lions managed to tie the score at 14, 15 and 16, but the hosts never were able to pull ahead. Kills by Shelby Miller and Pavich prompted a Bryan timeout with Milligan leading 22-18. Out of the timeout Maiden and Pavich combined for a block and an attack error brought the Buffs to set point (24-18). After Bryan staved off four set points, Miller ended the set with a kill.

After two competitive sets, Bryan settled in to take the third set 25-13 and the fourth 25-18. In the third, Bryan jumped out to a 9-1 advantage, but Milligan managed to trim the margin to two (15-13). The Lions responded with 10-straight points to close the set and take a 2-1 overall edge. In the last set, Bryan scored seven of the first 10 points and used a seven-point run to build a 10-point edge (17-7). The Buffs battled back within six (20-14) but could get no closer as the Loins secured their 14th conference win.

Miller paced Milligan's offense with 16 kills, followed by Maiden with 10 kills and Sarah Grace Larkey with nine kills. Kolbie Greene distributed 41 assists and had 15 digs. Paxton Adkins (15) and Riley Brinn (12) also notched double-digit digs.

Milligan heads to Georgia this weekend for AAC matchups at Brenau and Truett McConnell on Friday and Saturday.