Falcons Split on Final Day of UAH Invitational

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The University of Montevallo women's volleyball team (8-5) fell in its first match of the day 3-0 at the University of Alabama-Huntsville Invitational but came back and had a huge second match against the host team winning 3-0.The Falcons went from a .029 attack percentage in the first match to an outstanding .404 percentage in the second match.

The Falcons took on Harding University (12-2) in the first match falling 3-0. Head coach Katie O'Brien used her entire bench as everybody who was able to play played in the match. Freshman Virginia Clay (Fort Collins, Colo./Poudre) led the way with seven kills and two block assists while senior Katy Handrick (De Pere, Wisc./De Pere) had six kills and five digs.

Sophomore Rachel Wotitzky (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte) had a team-high 11 digs while senior Katie Johnson (Alabaster, Ala./Thompson) chipped in nine. Sophomore Anna Garrison (LaVergne, Tenn./LaVergne) had 21 assists and seven digs.

The Falcons lost all three sets 25-19, 25-17 and 25-17.

UM turned it up a notch when they faced the host team University of Alabama-Huntsville (4-10). The Falcons swept the Lady Chargers 25-14, 25-21 and 25-14.

Johnson and Handrick took over as they each had double digit kills with 15 and 14, respectively. Handrick chipped in 10 digs good for another double-double while Johnson fell just short with eight digs and four block assists. All three senior hitters, Johnson, Handrick and Carson Anderson (Chattanooga, Tenn./Baylor), had attack percentages above .400 while Anderson led the way with an amazing .600 with seven kills.

Clay would not be left out as she had seven kills of her own with a .467 attack percentage. She also led the team in blocks with five. Wotitzky once again had double-digit digs with 10.

Garrison dished out 39 assists along the way.

The Falcons will return to the court Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. as they host No. 19 University of West Florida.