Buffs Fall 3-1 to Rio Grande and Cumberlands at Mountain Madness

MILLIGAN, Tenn. – On Saturday, the Milligan University volleyball squad absorbed a pair of 3-1 losses at the hands of the University of Rio Grande and University of the Cumberlands.

The Buffs have now fallen to 1-3 on the season at the conclusion of Milligan Mountain Madness. Avery Maiden was named to the Mountain Madness All-Tournament team as the Buffs' representative following Saturday's matches.

Game 1 – Rio Grande 3, Milligan 1 (25-22, 25-7, 20-25, 25-19)

The Buffs were able to win the third set of the battle with the RedStorm, and they played hard in two of the remaining three sets.

A trio of Buffs managed to rack up double-digit kills. Avery Maiden led the way with 13 kills on 43 attempts (.186), while committing five errors. Sierra Still had the top attacking percentage of the bunch, hitting at .346 with 12 kills on 26 tries. She had just three errors. Shelby Miller rounded out the group with 11 putaways on 26 attempts and hit .308.

Kolbie Greene had 31 assists. Zoie Larkins had 14 digs, while Greene notched 13.

Game 2 – Cumberlands 3, Milligan 1 (28-26, 25-23, 20-25, 25-18)

Milligan played an especially strong first three sets in the match against the Patriots. In each set they tallied double-digit putaways as a team.

Miller led the way with a 20-piece in the kill department, hitting at .276 on 58 attempts. A. Maiden added 12 kills of her own, while Addison Varney had seven kills out of the middle. Greene totaled 39 assists and grabbed 20 digs. Larkins (17), A. Maiden (14) and Still (12) each picked up double-digit digs.

The Buffs will head off to the Labor Day Classic on the campus of Florida College in Temple Terrace, Fla. on Aug. 30 and 31.