Miller Sizzles, Maiden Sets Career Block Record in Buffs Volleyball AAC Quarterfinal Win over Union Commonwealth

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Milligan University's No. 3-seeded women's volleyball squad battled the No. 6 seed Union Commonwealth University Bulldogs in the 2024 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Volleyball Championship Quarterfinal round on Friday night in Kingsport at the MeadowView Marriott and Conference Center. In short order, the Buffaloes handled their foes from Barbourville in straight sets, 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-20). 

Following a slow start to the first set, in which the Buffaloes trailed 7-3, they stormed ahead to a 16-13 advantage. That 13-6 run led to a Union Commonwealth timeout. After the stoppage, Milligan scored three of the next five, resulting in another UCU timeout. From there, the Buffs continued their impressive play, cruising to an eventual 25-20 triumph. 

Set number two started in dominant fashion for Milligan, as they started the stanza with a 12-6 run and held the lead the entire time, resulting in a Bulldogs timeout to try settling things down. Not much would change, as the Buffs coasted to a simple 25-15 set victory to take a commanding 2-0 lead. 

A hotly contested start to the third set, which saw its first stoppage at 13-12, would cease to be that way in the latter half. Milligan nabbed nine of the match's next 13 points to jump out to a 22-16 lead, which they would never relinquish en route to a 25-20 set win, taking the match in straight sets. 

Milligan rode a career-defining performance from Shelby Miller, who tallied 21 kills on 48 swings and hit at .333 for the match, to lead the offensive attack. Ella Maiden also scored 10 kills on 23 swings and hit at .348 for the night. The trio of Kira Ryan, Addison Varney and Avery Maiden also had four kills, apiece. Kolbie Greene set the table masterfully with 35 assists. 

Zoie Larkins and Greene each tallied 14 digs in the triumph, while Sierra Still joined them in double-digits with 12 on the evening. The Buffaloes' also saw history made on Friday, as E. Maiden broke the program record for career blocks with five block assists and one solo block in the tilt. She reached 509 blocks, breaking the previous mark of 508 set by Kim Marshall from 1988-1991. Her sister had a strong night at the net, as well, sending back four block assists and a solo stuff. Varney (3), Miller (2), Ryan (1) and Greene (1) rounded out the list of block assists for Milligan. 

The Buffs' season will now continue tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 p.m., as they face off with No. 2 seed Reinhardt University, looking for a berth into the Championship match.