SMC Volleyball Returns to the Court at CAC Volleyball Classic

Lawrence, Kan. – After a 21-day break from action due to Hurricane Helene, the Spartanburg Methodist College volleyball team returned to the court for three matches as part of the CAC Volleyball Classic on Friday. The Pioneers posted a 1-2 record on the day.

 SMC began the day with a 22-25, 25-11, 25-16, 25-19 win over Fisher. In the four-set win, the Pioneers posted a .130 hitting percentage and served up six service aces in the win. Brook Noe had her second double double of the season, recording 24 assists and 10 digs in the win. Plus, Brantlie Price added 16 digs and a season-high eight kills to the winning efforts.

The first set was tied on five occasions as Fisher scored six of the final nine points for a 25-22 win. The second set saw SMC race out to an 11-4 lead that included a pair of service aces by Noe for the early advantage. The Pioneers evened the match with a 7-2 run to end the set on their way to a 25-11 victory.

The third set was tied at seven before a block solo by Leilani Campbell, who also put down a kill of her own that put the Pioneers ahead for the remainder of the set. Another decisive run, a 7-3 spurt, at the end of the set allowed SMC to take the lead in the match with a 25-16 win in the set. The Pioneers closed out the match, winning the fourth set by a 25-19 margin. In the set, SMC erased a 17-13 deficit with a 10-1 run to take a 23-18 lead. To spark the run, Aurora Aho had three kills.

The second match of the day saw SMC go back and forth with Florida National in a 25-21, 25-22, 27-25 loss. Aurora Aho had nine kills to go along with 12 digs to lead the attack for the Pioneers. Bailey Beck and Kendall Meinders each had three blocks, plus Hana Vucinic had 22 digs and two service aces.

The first set was tied on three occasions before the Conquistadors of Florida National broke a 15-15 tie with four unanswered points on its way to the set victory. The second set saw the Conquistadors take a 10-5 lead, but a resilient SMC squad came back to tie the set at 22. Florida National scored the next three points to secure the set. The third set went back and forth, much like the match, as the Conquistadors clinched the match with a 4-1 run to secure the victory. 

The third match of the day saw the Pioneers fall to host Haskell by a 23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-23 margin. Aurora Aho had a double double with 11 kills and 12 digs and Hana Vucinic had 18 more digs.

SMC overcame an early deficit to tie the set at 20, scoring the final five points for a 25-20 victory. The second set was tied on seven occasions, including at 21. Then, Haskell broke free with three-straight points on its way to a 25-23 to even the match at a set apiece.

The third set saw Haskell take a 10-4 lead to begin the set. The Pioneers came back to get within one, 19-18 when Kendall Meinders recorded a kill. The Fighting Indians scored the next three points to remain in front for the rest of the set en route to a 25-22 win. The fourth set was tied on five occasions. Tied at 9, a service ace by the Fighting Indians sparked a 5-1 spurt that proved to be the difference.  

Next, the Pioneers will have rematches against Haskell and Florida National on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. (EST) and 12:30 p.m. (EST), respectively.