The University of Mary Washington volleyball team downed Southern Virginia University, 3-1, on Wednesday evening in Buena Vista, VA. The Eagles improve to 9-9 overall, and 3-1 in the CAC. Seniors Peyton Dunow and Savannah Powers both recorded 12 kills a piece on the night.
In the first set, the Knights got out to a fast start as they won the first four points. They kept pushing to go up 8-1 in the early going. Down 9-4, Tenley Hares and Powers recorded back-to-back kills to get within three. SVU slowly kept their lead and pushed it up to six 17-11. With the score 18-13, Dunow recorded two kills and Powers had one to get to within just two points, 18-16. From there, the Knights won five straight points to distance themselves and then went on to take the first set 25-19.
The Eagles came out hot in the second set as they won the first three points with Wren Berry serving. The Knights came back and tied it at 4-4. After both teams spent time exchanging points, the Eagles regained a three point lead, 11-8, on a kill from Dunow. With the scored tied at 14 a piece, SVU took a 16-14 lead. The Knights grew their second set lead to four, 19-15. UMW fought back and took a 21-19 lead with senior libero Kendall Hall serving. In that run, Hall recorded three service aces. After a bad set by the Eagles, UMW reeled off four straight points to win the second set 25-20, capped by a kill from Powers.
UMW took control early in the third set. After a point from the Knights, UMW went on a 10-2 run to take a 10-3 lead. Krista Rodgers had three kills for the Eagles in that time. SVU had a side-out and then with Powers serving the Eagles scored six straight points to up their lead to 12, 16-4. With the score 17-8, UMW scored eight straight points to end the set and win 25-8. Hall recorded two more service aces in that last run of the set.
The Eagles got out to a 5-3 advantage in the fourth set, looking to win the match. The Knights weren't ready to give up just yet as they scored four straight points to take a 7-5 lead. From there, Powers went back to serve and reeled off five straight points to put UMW up 10-7. The Eagles grew their lead to five, 14-9, after SVU had two attack errors. The Knights kept fighting in the set and won six straight points in the game of runs to go up 15-14. The fourth set came down to the wire as the teams exchanged points, until UMW gained a two point advantage, 21-19. The Eagles maintained their lead and won 25-22.
Hall led the Eagles with five service aces and 19 digs. Powers had 13 digs, while Dunow chipped in 12. Berry dished out 30 assists on the night. Rodgers produced eight kills on 16 attempts to hit .500 on the night.
The Eagles will be back in action on Friday as they will host York College at 7 p.m.