Buffs Volleyball Beats TWU, Finishes Regular Season on 13-Match Winning Streak

MILLIGAN, Tenn. – On Tuesday night, the Milligan University women's volleyball team had an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matchup with Tennessee Wesleyan inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse to conclude their 2024 regular season. The Buffaloes had won 12 straight matches entering the final match before AAC Tournament play. The streak would continue, as Milligan staved off a pair of shaky sets to win 3-1 (25-16, 21-25, 25-10, 25-23). 

Milligan came roaring out of the gates, notching a simple 25-16 win to open the competition. The mood quickly changed when the Bulldogs snatched the second set, 25-21, as the Buffaloes were forced to enter a tiebreaking third set. 

That did not phase them, though, as the Buffs posted a brilliantly dominant third penultimate set, grabbing a 25-10 victory. Lastly, Milligan trailed for much of the final set but were able to score three straight points to notch a 25-23 set triumph to win the match. 

Ella Maiden had a ridiculous 17 kills on 24 swings, attacking at an astounding .708 mark for the contest. She was aided by 10 kills by both Shelby Miller and Avery Maiden, as well. On top of that, Addison Varney added five kills out of the middle. Kolbie Greene doled out 37 assists in the four-set battle. 

Grace Sanderson was the squad's leader in the dig category, compiling 11 in the win. Greene added 10 of her own, while Zoie Larkins and Sierra Still provided nine apiece. Riley Brinn managed eight pickups in the victorious effort. E. Maiden had a pair of solo rejections, and Varney had two block assists. Both A. Maiden and Kira Ryan added single block assists to the cause. 

With the four-set win, the Buffaloes conclude their regular-season slate on a 13-game winning streak. That consistency should prove to serve them well as they head in the AAC Tournament, which will begin on Friday, Nov. 14 at the MeadowView Marriott in Kingsport.