VolleyKnights Tennessee Road Trip Results

The Kentucky Christian University volleyball team left the friendly confines of the Damron Hall of Champions and Ron Arnett Court to make stops in Athens, Dayton, and Knoxville. First up was:

Tennessee Wesleyan (9/23)

KCU jumped out early on their opponents from Athens, TN by taking the first two sets 25-11 and 25-23 only to see the home team rally to a 22-25 third set win. The VolleyKnights righted the ship and took set four 25-20 and the match 3-1.

Kentucky Christian was led offensively by Kristin Upshaw-Mendoza and Delanie Gilliland. Upshaw-Mendoza posted an 18 kill/9 dig match while Gilliland added 10 kills, a solo and an assisted block. Hannah Cron dished out 17 assists and her running mate, Lyndi Starkey chipped in 11 assists. With four aces, Anna Cruser led KCU from behind the service line.

At the net, the VolleyKnights were credited with four solo and 14 assisted blocks. Naomi Naugler (1S/4A) and Rachel Dunaway were the leaders in that category. Cron produced a double-digit night with 12 digs.

Bryan (9/24)

The Knights were swept in three straight as the #1 team in the AAC, Bryan College, took care of business defeating KCU 11-25, 15-25, 17-25. The Lions held the statistical edge in kills (23-40), assists (22-38), and digs (49-55) for the game.

Three different Knights had five kill each as Vanessa Aponte, Gilliland and Upshaw-Mendoza tied for the team lead in that stat. With double figures in digs, Upshaw-Mendoza (14) and and Ashlyn Funk (12) led the back row defense while Gilliland, likewise led the defensive effort at the net with two solo blocks.

Cron and Starkey registered 10 & 11 assists, respectively.

Johnson (9/24)

On the final leg of the journey, the Knights were on the Johnson University campus to play the Royals. In this long-running series, there have been many ups and downs in the win column and on this night, JU enjoyed the ups, winning 1-3, (13-25, 25-17, 19-25, 17-25). The Royals hung this victory on the defense as they held a decisive edge in two categories: digs (49-64) and total blocking (8-22).

Upshaw-Mendoza posted a 15 kill/8 dig effort and Naomi Naugler was right behind her with 14 kills, a solo and 3 assisted blocks. Gilliland just missed double-digits in kills with nine and added a solo and 2 assisted blocks. The duo of Starkey and Kileigh Boggs had 17 & 15 assists, respectively.

Who's Up Next

The VolleyKnights will host the Truett McConnell University Bears next Friday, with the first serve coming at 6:30 PM.

Go Knights!!!

@GoKnightsVB

@AACsports