Volleyball rallies to 3-1 win at Bryan

DAYTON, Tenn. (September 26, 2023) – The Milligan University volleyball team earned a hard-fought four-set road win at Bryan on Tuesday evening.

The Buffs move to 11-5 on the season and 5-1 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play. Bryan falls to 9-6, 6-2 AAC. The win snaps a seven-game losing streak for the Buffs again Bryan. Milligan's last victory over the Lions came in 2019.

A slow start for Milligan allowed Bryan to jump out to a 20-6 advantage in the first set and cruise to a 1-0 set lead (25-18). The Buffs jumped out to a 7-2 edge in the second set and used an 8-1 run to led by as many as nine points (18-9) before evening the match with a 25-20 set two win.

Bryan led 23-19 late in the third set before the Buffs reeled off six-straight points to steal the frame 25-23. Taylor Pavich had three kills in Milligan's late rally to clinch the set.

The Lions led the fourth set 21-19 before another clutch Milligan spurt propelled the Buffs to a 25-23 victory to win the match 3-1.

Avery Maiden matched a career high with 15 kills in the win. Ella Maiden added 11 kills and five total blocks. Pavich had eight kills, Greyson Stevens had seven and Shelby Miller added six.

Kolbie Greene accumulated 41 assists and 19 digs. Rachel Falin and Riley Brinn set career highs with 23 and 20 digs respectively. Zoie Larkins added 19 digs.

As a team, Milligan set season highs in assists (48) and digs (104). The Buffs had just one reception error on the night.

The Buffs host defending AAC regular season and tournament champion Columbia International on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m.