BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – UT Southern volleyball closed out their first weekend with two wins in the final day of the Vette City Classic. The FireHawks rallied for another five-set win, this time over Missouri Valley College (17-25, 25-22, 20-25, 25-14, 15-11), and then took Union College (25-19, 25-15 27-25) down in straight sets, 3-0.

Both UTS and MVC swung under .200 offensively in the five-set affair, as the Vikings took set one and set two went to the FireHawks. A UT Southern error ended the third set, but the FireHawks came rumbling back in the fourth frame for a commanding 25-14 win that forced the fifth game. UTS ran off to a 10-7 lead before giving away two crucial points in set five, but then rattled off four more to match point at 14-9. MVC threatened the score to 14-11, but the FireHawks came through for the final point and the win.

UTS was led in double digit kills by Brianna Turner with 18 kills, followed by Flavia Ruiz with 16, and Kaitlyn Lund with 10. Freshman setter Laura Howell turned in a double-double with 37 assists and 18 digs, while Ruiz and Lund provided defense at the net with five blocks a piece.

UT Southern claimed their final match of the weekend in three sets in a much more effective offensive performance. Combined, the FireHawks swung for a .337 kill percentage, led by Turner's 12 total kills and Ruiz's 11. Lund with the most efficient hitter with a .615 clip that included eight kills, as Kara Nelms also swung for eight kills. Howell dished out 34 assists, and Summer Jackson dug up 12.

For her performance over the weekend which included 56 kills, Turner earned Vette City Classic All-Tournament honors. UTS is 3-1 overall after their first weekend of play. The FireHawks will return to the court on Tuesday, August 24^th for their home opener versus Oakwood University before heading back on the road for the Milligan Mountain Madness in Johnson City, Tennessee over the weekend.