Malina Harris
Sophomore Malina Harris recorded a pair of aces and a match-high 16 assists Tuesday night against UVA Wise.
0
UVA Wise UVAW 2-5, 0-2
3
Winner Limestone LU 3-2, 1-0
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
UVA Wise UVAW 17 14 18 (0)
Limestone LU 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Ernest Meyers, Assistant A.D. for Media Relations

Saints Open SAC Schedule with Home Sweep Over UVA Wise

GAFFNEY, S.C. – Opening up the South Atlantic Conference and the 2021 home schedule, the Limestone University women's volleyball team used a well-balanced attack to sweep the University of Virginia's College at Wise in convincing fashion, 3-0, at the Timken Center on Tuesday, September 14.  
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Limestone 3, UVA Wise 0
Set Scores: 25-17, 25-14, 25-18
Records: Limestone (3-2, 1-0), UVA Wise (2-5, 1-1)
Location: Timken Center
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 
  • Senior Vanessa Blas (Concord, N.C.) tallied 11 kills and two aces to lead the Saints
  • Sophomore Malina Harris (Mooresville, N.C.) handed out 16 assists to go with two aces
  • Freshman Paige Gardella (Sugar Grove, Ill.) dished out 13 assists
  • Senior Bailey Carpenter (Lawrenceville, Ga.) added 13 digs and a service ace
  • Senior Madysen Williams (Antioch, Tenn.) posted five kills, seven digs, and a service ace
  • Freshman Josie Curran (Westerville, Ohio) chipped in seven kills and two digs
  • Junior Leilani Wilcox Nanai (Christchurch, New Zealand) finished with six kills and three digs
  • Senior Madyson Lousignont (Las Vegas, Nev.) had five assists, two kills, and two block assists
  • As a team, Limestone registered a .269 attack percentage while holding UVA Wise to a .040 clip
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Set
 
The Saints and Highland Cavaliers split the first six points of the opening set, but a kill from senior Gabby Wessels (Watseka, Ill.) sparked a 10-3 surge that would put the Blue and Gold in front for good. Attacks from Williams, Blas, Harris, and Wilcox Nanai helped fuel the run as Limestone pushed out to a 13-6 lead.
 
UVA Wise battled back to get to within four points at 18-14 and again at 19-15, but back-to-back kills from Williams and Blas would power a quick 4-0 spurt to make it 23-15. A pair of errors by the visitors then bookended an attack by Wilcox Nanai as the Saints captured a 1-0 match lead with a 25-17 set-one win.  
 
Second Set
 
The Cavaliers led 5-4 early in the second, but an ace by Williams and three emphatic kills by Blas started a 16-6 stretch that would give Limestone a 20-11 cushion. Williams, Curran, and Wilcox Nanai all had a pair of attacks during the decisive run before sophomore Kasey Thacker (Rome, Ga.) capped it with a kill.  
 
The run was temporarily halted by two straight points from UVA Wise, but it was too little, too late as Wilcox Nanai and Harris found an opening in the defense to start a 5-1 counterattack. Carpenter chipped in a service ace to put Limestone at set point before the Saints closed out the set with a 25-14 decision.
 
Third Set
 
Following four consecutive errors by the Cavaliers to start the third set, it looked as if Limestone might run away after kills by seniors Sydney Bibby (Cumming, Ga.) and Madeline Yeager (Sacramento, Calif.) put the home team on top, 11-3. UVA Wise fought back, however, using an 11-2 run to move in front, 14-13.
 
The UVA Wise lead was short-lived as kills from Lousignont, Curran and Blas powered a 4-0 spurt to allow the Saints to regain the lead. The Cavs tied things up at 17 a few ticks later, but a kill and two straight aces by Blas sparked Limestone to a match-clinching 8-1 run and a 3-0 sweep with a 25-18 win.  
 
TURNING POINT
 
Limestone used decisive long runs in each of the three sets Tuesday night to pull away for a 3-0 sweep over the Cavaliers. The Saints took advantage of a 10-3 run in the first set, a 16-6 stretch in the second frame, and 12-4 surge to close the third to win both their home and South Atlantic Conference openers.  
 
NOTABLES
 
  • The Blue and Gold had an impressive .367 attacking percentage in the second frame
  • Limestone has swept both of its matches against UVA Wise at the Timken Center
  • The Saints hosted the Cavs to close the home schedule during the unusual spring 2021 season
  • Blas and Curran are each averaging double-digit kills over their first five matches of the year
  • Gardella and Harris each have 11 service aces in five matches
  • The duo has also combined for 170 assists early in the 2021 campaign
 
UP NEXT
 
Limestone will host a former conference rival in Belmont Abbey College on Friday, September 17 at 7 p.m. in the Timken Center. The Saints swept the Crusaders at the Pacer Invitational over the weekend.
 
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