WEST POINT, Ga.—The Southeastern volleyball team started its 2017 season with a 2-0 record at the Point tri-match Thursday afternoon.
SEU knocked off the hosts in a tight four-set match, then took care of Brewton-Parker 3-0.
The first match of the season saw the first three sets decided by just two points each (25-23, 28-26, 24-26), with extra rallies needed in two of them, before the Fire crushed the ball in the fourth set, hitting .519 to close the match with a 25-19 win.
Trailing 5-4 in the first set, the Fire went on a 6-1 run, taking advantage of Skyhawk attack errors. Point would answer with five straight points of their own to take an 11-10 lead. Neither team led by more than three the rest of the way, with the guests winning the final two points for a 25-23 win.
In the second set, the Fire dug a 10-3 hole with five attack errors, but rallied back to tie the set at 16.
Kiana Sawtelle served out the last two points, concluding with an ace for the final point.
Southeastern was unable to complete the sweep, dropping the third set 26-24, posting a .125 team hitting percentage with eight errors.
That number was cut in half during the fourth. Freshman
Kaity Reed recorded six of her match-high 22 kills during the final set. Reed finished with a .447 hitting percentage, six digs, and assisted on a block. Sawtelle (15) and
Kelsey Morton (10) were also in double figures in kills.
Courtney Krause registered a match-best 21 assists, with
Natalie Anderson adding 18.
Errors were the theme in the second match against Brewton-Parker, with the Barons making double-digit attack errors in all three sets. Part of that was due to the Fire defense, which recorded nine blocks. Freshman
Savannah Blagg assisted on three, and registered a solo.
Morton was the top attacker, recording five kills on 12 swings.
The Fire will head West on Friday to take part in the Faulkner Invitational over the weekend.
