November 12, 2009

Falcons Ready to Begin their First PBC Conference Tournament

MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The University of Montevallo volleyball team (19-13, 8-6 PBC) is getting set to head to Aiken, S.C. for their first Peach Belt Conference Tournament. The three-day tournament, which is part of the PBC-GEICO Championship Series, will run Friday, November 13-Sunday, November 15. The Falcons qualified as the fourth seed in the eight-team field. UM will take on the host USC Aiken in the first round on Friday at 6 p.m. eastern.

The Falcons went 2-0 against the Pacers during the regular season defeating them 3-0 in Aiken and 3-2 at home. The Pacers have won five PBC Tournament Titles (1991, 1992, 1996, 2006, 2007) in their 18 years of competition.

UM is led by senior's Katy Handrick (De Pere, Wisc./De Pere) and Katie Johnson (Alabaster, Ala./Thompson). Handrick ranks fifth in the PBC in kills per set (3.15) and 14th in service aces per set (0.29). She has over 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs and leads the team in kills, kills per set and is third in digs and service aces. She has 10 double-doubles this season and had a season-high 27 kills against Christian Brothers University. Johnson was a preseason All-PBC selection. She ranks 13th in hitting percentage (.217) in the PBC and sixth in kills per set (2.88). She has nine double-doubles this season and is second on the team in kills, kills per set, assists and blocks. She also has over 1,000 career kills.

Sophomore setter Anna Garrison (LaVergne, Tenn./LaVergne) also brings some strong play to the tournament. She ranks 32nd in the NCAA in assists per set and was selected Second Team Academic All-District. She leads the PBC in assists per set (10.43), ranks ninth in service aces per set (0.34) and 14th in digs per set (2.81). She leads the Falcons in assists and is second in service aces and digs. She has already reached 1,200 assists this season and has 17 double-doubles.

Freshman libero Brittany Wilson (Floyds Knobs, Ind./Floyd Central) will also play a strong role in the Falcons postseason success. She ranks first in the PBC in service aces per set (0.45) and fourth in digs per set (4.21). She leads the team in service aces and digs and is just seven digs away from 500 for the season. She has two 30-plus dig performances this season.

In the two matches against Aiken this season the Falcons were led by Johnson who averaged 4.12 kills per set and Handrick who averaged 3.12 kills per set. Garrison averaged 10.3 assists per set while Wilson had 5.38 digs per set.

The winner of the UM versus USC Aiken match will take on the winner of the No. 1 seed Flagler versus No. 8 seed UNC Pembroke. The match will take place Saturday evening at either 4 or 6 p.m. eastern.