LaGrange, Ga. – The William Peace volleyball team hit the road this afternoon for a pair of crucial conference matches, as they took down the Hawks of Huntingdon College, 3-2, followed by a four set win over the Panthers of LaGrange College.
The Pacers improved to 7-15 overall, and most importantly, 5-4 in the USA South. This gives them a two game cushion over North Carolina Wesleyan for the North Division's final spot into next month's conference tournament. Peace also holds the head-to-head advantage over the Battling Bishops in the event of a tie.
"We finally decided to show up today," said head coach Kevin Daniels. "We played with energy, excitement, and something just clicked"
WPU started the day against Huntingdon (4-13, 0-6 USAS) and never trailed in the opening set, which they went on to win, 25-19. The Hawks responded though and downed the Pacers in the second and third, 25-17 and 25-15, respectively.
Huntingdon looked poised for a relatively easy win after taking a 15-8 lead in the fourth, but WPU weathered the storm and cut their deficit to three thanks to a 5-1 spurt. The Pacers used an 8-1 run to close out the set, 25-22, and carried their momentum into the fifth which they took, 15-12.
Megan Mansfield and Tempestt Frazier led the Pacers with 12 kills apiece, while Laura Bland recorded another double-double with 11 kills and 20 digs.
Carson Williams racked up a team high and career best 23 digs. Sarah Weavil had 25 assists in addition to 20 from Baylee Maughon.
Against LaGrange (10-12, 2-4 USAS), the Pacers went on two different 7-0 swings jumping ahead, 17-4, in the first. The Panthers stormed back, but WPU held on, 25-22.
LaGrange rolled over Peace in the second, 25-10, but the Pacers snapped back to reality in the final two sets. WPU won the third set, 25-19, and the fourth, 25-17, behind one of their best hitting performance of the year. The Pacers hit .346 in the third, .500 in the fourth, and .294 for the match.
It was a balanced Pacers attack with Mansfield recording a team high 13 kills. Nicole Phillips recorded 9 kills at a .412 clip. Bland added 8 kills, hitting .538 to go along with 7 digs and 4 block assists. Merica Ivey also chipped in with 7 kills. Frazier had 6 kills in addition to 5 block assists.
Maughon collected 26 assists with Weavil contributing 13 more. Williams and Maddie Irvin each recorded 10 digs.
WPU volleyball returns to action Thursday, Oct. 9 at 5:00 p.m. against Mary Baldwin.
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