Volleyball Concludes Milligan Invite with Historic Win

MILLIGAN, Tenn.- Southeastern volleyball (3-1) made history today after earning their first NAIA Top 25 win, downing No. 12 Taylor University 3-1 to conclude the Milligan Invite.
 
Against the Trojans, the Fire defense led by Cassie Martin held the No. 12 team to a .097 hitting percentage. In her first start with the Fire, Martin led the Fire at the net with eight blocks to aid in the upset victory.
 
Paired with the solid defensive performance, Emilia Harding and Tatyana Lyons combined for 29 kills, Harding with 15 and Lyons with 14.
 
Southeastern took set one by a score of 25-21 after hitting .306 with 15 kills. In a back-and-forth set one, the difference came late in the set when the Fire went on a six-point run to take a 23-17 lead behind two kills by Lyons and a kill and block by Chapel Cunningham. The lead proved significant enough to hold off the Trojans in the set one win.
 
The Fire dropped set two 27-25 after hitting .108 with 14 kills, slightly outdone by the Trojans' .139 attack percentage.
 
The Trojans jumped out to a 7-3 lead early in the set after an ace and four Fire attack errors. The Fire found themselves down by as much as 17-8 in set two but battled back after a seven-point run that brought them within one. Two kills and another service ace, one of the Trojans' 13 of the match, tied the contest at one.
 
Set three saw the Fire jump back in front with a hard-fought 28-26 win after 14 kills.
 
Southeastern began the set with a significant 8-3 lead but were unable to fend off the Trojan comeback. Late in the set, the Trojans tied the contest at 21 and extended their lead to 24-21 after two Fire attack errors. Kills by Grace Petty and Lyons aided in a small comeback as the Fire would retake the lead 25-24 and concluding the set with back-to-back kills by Lyons and Olivia Williams to take the 2-1 lead.
 
The defense secured the set four and match victory after holding the Trojans to a .093 attack percentage to take the 25-21 win.
 
A 7-0 run early in the set by the Fire propelled them to an 8-2 lead before two Fire errors and two kills brought the Trojans back within two. The Fire then lengthened their lead to 16-10 which was quickly washed away by six straight Trojan points. With the Fire clinging to a 22-21 lead, a kill by Martin and two errors by the Trojans secured the Fire's victory.
 
Alexandra Postlethwaite concluded the contest with 28 assists while Williams led the team in digs with 17.
 
In the first game of the day, the Fire fell to receiving votes Blue Mountain Christian 3-0.
 
The Fire were unable to overcome their .043 attack percentage in their first loss of the season.
 
Lyons led the Fire on both sides with seven kills and six blocks.
 
Southeastern will next head to the Faulkner Invitational in Montgomery, Ala. on September 1^st for four contests.