Volleyball bows out in AAC quarterfinals

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (November 11, 2022) – The Milligan university volleyball team ended its season in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament quarterfinals as the Buffs fell in four sets to Reinhardt at the MeadowView Convention Center & Resort on Friday evening.

The Buffs and Eagles entered the No. 4 verses No. 5 matchup with identical 18-12 records. Milligan concludes its season at 18-13 while Reinhardt rises to 19-12 and advances to play top-seeded No. 22 CIU tomorrow in the conference semifinals.

The Eagles took the 3-1 victory with set scores of 25-11, 25-223, 17-25, 25-23.

Reinhardt raced out to an 18-5 edge in the first set and cruised to a 25-11 set one victory.

After Milligan fell behind 10-5 in the second set, Riley Brinn provided a spark. Brinn recorded three kills and two blocks in a stretch that allowed Milligan to take a 14-13 lead. After the Eagles retook the lead, Milligan tied the game at 18 after back-to-back kills by Sarah Grace Larkey and Shelby Miller. Reinhardt then scored the next three points and never trailed again on its way to a 25-23 set two win.

With their backs against the wall down 2-0, the Buffs opened the third set by scoring 11 of the first 16 points in the frame. Reinhardt crept back within three points late (20-17) before Milligan reeled off the final five points in a row with Greyson Stevens and Miller teaming up for a block to clinch the set at 25-17.

In the fourth set, Milligan used an 8-2 run to battle back from a four-point deficit to lead 18-16. However a 5-1 run handed the Eagles the advantage and despite getting back within one at 20-19, 21-20, 21-22, 23-22 and 24-23, the Buffs were unable to draw even as Reinhardt took the set 25-23 to secure the victory.

Ella Maiden paced Milligan with 14 kills with a .462 hitting percentage and five total blocks. Miller finished with eight kills and four blocks. Stevens had six kills, eight digs and four blocks.

Greene finished with 36 assists, 14 digs and three kills. Brinn had four kills and a team-high 15 digs. Paxton Adkins had 11 digs.

The Buffs recorded their 14th-consecutive winning season in AAC play under head coach Doneva Bays in 2022.