Hawks Taken Down By Maryville Before Sweeping Wesleyan

MACON, Ga.- Traveling to Macon, Georgia for their final road CCS tri-match of the season, Hawks Volleyball opened the day with a five-set loss to Maryville before following up with a 3-0 sweep over Wesleyan. 

Match one v. Maryville

The Hawks got things going with a strong first set victory, stringing things out 26-24 as they claimed a 1-0 advantage. Maryville saw a slight advantage in kills for the set over the Hawks, picking up 11 compared to Huntingdon's 10, but the Hawks maintained a higher rate of efficiency at the net, committing 4 errors to the Scots 7, lending itself to the Hawks victory. The two teams traded blows throughout the early parts of the set, but largely in part due to Maryville's errors, the Hawks held onto a 24-21 lead down the stretch following a kill from Morgan Suggs. The Scots managed to even things at 24, but a clutch ace from Lauren Mason secured the set for Huntingdon. 

Responding to their opening set loss however, Maryville evened things 1-1 after a 25-22 set two victory. The Hawks remained more efficient at the net compared to the Scots, holding a 0.216 hitting percentage to 0.174 for Maryville, but the Scots nine more attempts at the net proved to be the difference, as they stormed back from a 20-12 deficit to claim the set. 

The Hawks battled back from their second set loss with another impressive set victory, taking the third 25-20. Maryville flew out of the gates en route to a 9-5 lead, but the Hawks battled back with kills from Molly Wilson, A'Kirra McElveen, and Morgan Suggs to grab a 15-14 lead. McElveen, Kinsley Martin, and Cheyenne Ashworth found a second wind coming down the stretch of the set for Huntingdon, each finding success at the net as the Hawks outscored Maryville 10-6 to move in front 2-1. 

Forcing a fifth set, Maryville pulled out an emphatic 25-15 fourth set victory. Recording just 7 kills on the set, the Hawks couldn't get going offensively, watching a 9-9 match turn into a double-digit loss as they were outpaced to the tune of 16-6 down the stretch. 

Walking away with the dramatic victory, Maryville claimed the fifth set 15-11. The Scots led early, but Huntingdon roared back off the efforts of Wilson, Suggs, and McElveen to tie things at 6. Trading blows down the stretch, a 3 point swing for the Scots proved to be the difference, as the Hawks fell behind 13-9 and couldn't bounce back, falling in five. 

Match two v. Wesleyan

Off the heels of their first match loss to Maryvile, the Hawks opened their match against Wesleyan with a 25-10 first set victory. Led by Aly Harris, Huntingdon jumped out to a 8-2 lead early in the set. Wesleyan drew within seven, 13-6, but Huntingdon answered 12-2 run to secure the set. 

Still rolling, the Hawks opened the second set on a 8-0 run en route to a 25-10 second set victory. With only six kills to their credit, Huntingdon's defensive efforts drove the Hawks success in the set, as they forced seven Wolves errors and allowed just two kills. Alysa Bias and Cheyenne Ashworth led the way, securing 2 aces and 3 kills early as the Hawks tightened their grip with a 2-0 lead. 

In order to close things out and complete the sweep, Huntingdon took the third set by a score of 25-13. Gracie Wallace opened things on a tear, scoring back-to-back aces to give the Hawks a slight lead before Wesleyan drew within four, 9-5. Taylor Stewart, Sara Cochran, Jessie Eunice, and Molly Wilson sparked the Hawks offensively coming down the stretch in the set, each scoring as Huntingdon's lead grew to as much as 24-12 before another Wolves error closed things out.

Hawk Top Performers

• #33 Cheyenne Ashworth- 9 kills, 5 digs
• #23 Alysa Bias- 1 kill, 4 digs, 5 aces

The Hawks return to action on Thursday, October 30th at Belhaven. Gametime is set for 6:30 PM CT.