Falcons Take No. 18 West Florida to the Limit

MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The University of Montevallo volleyball team (8-6) took No. 18 University of West Florida (7-7) to the limit falling just short of victory, 3-2. The Falcons fell behind 2-0 in the early sets but used a strong will to win to comeback and take the next two sets to force a deciding fifth game. UM was led by a trio of seniors in Katie Johnson (Alabaster, Ala./Thompson), Katy Handrick (De Pere, Wisc./De Pere) and Carson Anderson (Chattanooga, Tenn./Baylor).

Handrick led the team with 13 kills and chipped in nine digs, two service aces and a trio of blocks. Johnson picked up another double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs. She also had four block assists. Anderson held down the middle with 11 kills and three digs. Freshman Virginia Clay (Fort Collins, Colo./Poudre) spent sometime in the middle as well picked up a team-high eight block assists and eight kills.

Junior Rebecca Dowd (Dothan, Ala./Providence Christian School) also had double-digit kills with 11 while sophomore Anna Garrison (LaVergne, Tenn./LaVergne) had her seventh double-double of the season with 49 assists and 11 digs.

Freshman Brittany Wilson (Floyds Knobs, Ind./Floyd Central) came just two digs away from joining the 30-dig club for the second time this season with 28.

UM dropped the first two sets 25-22 and 25-15 and it looked like it would be a quick 3-0 match but the Falcons had other plans. Down 22-17 in the third set the Falcons turned it around and won five of the next six points to cut the lead to 23-22. The Argonauts picked up the next point to make it 24-22 and once again the Falcons future looked bleak but two-straight points but the Falcons tied the set at 24. The next few points continued to go back and forth until the Falcons pulled away at 29-27.

The fourth set played out much like the third as the Falcons fell behind once again and fought their way back in the end. The Falcons went on to win 28-26. The Argonauts jumped out to a quick lead in the fifth set and the Falcons were unable to recover as UWF won 15-9.

The Falcons will return to the court this Saturday, Sept. 19 at 3 p.m. as they open up Peach Belt Conference play at home against UNC-Pembroke.