HENDERSON, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee Southern volleyball team opened its 2025 season in dominant fashion, earning two victories at the Freed-Hardeman Labor Day Classic and securing the first two wins of head coach Maca Ruiz's career.
The Firehawks (2-0) opened the day with a decisive 3-0 sweep over Michigan-Dearborn before outlasting Crowley's Ridge in a hard-fought 3-1 victory to cap off the night.
Match One – UT Southern 3, Michigan-Dearborn 0
Set Scores: 25-13, 25-10, 25-16
The Firehawks wasted no time establishing control in their season opener, hitting an impressive .317 as a team while limiting Michigan-Dearborn to a -.014 attack percentage.
Team Stats:
|
K |
E |
TA |
PCT |
SA |
Digs |
Blocks |
| UT Southern |
31 |
11 |
63 |
.317 |
15 |
30 |
9 |
| Michigan-Dearborn |
17 |
18 |
69 |
-.014 |
3 |
15 |
1 |
Set-by-Set Hitting (UTS):
-
Set 1: 12 K, 6 E, 24 TA, .250
-
Set 2: 9 K, 2 E, 18 TA, .389
-
Set 3: 10 K, 3 E, 21 TA, .333
Junior outside hitter Ashlee Kraft led the way with 12 kills on a .444 hitting percentage, adding 4 aces and 17 total points. Setter Jelleny Mallozzi orchestrated the offense with 17 assists, 4 aces, and a steady defensive presence. Freshman middle blocker Emma Beardsley chipped in 8 kills while hitting .500.
Match Two – UT Southern 3, Crowley's Ridge 1
Set Scores: 20-25, 25-14, 25-16, 26-24
In their second match of the day, the Firehawks fought through momentum swings to secure a four-set victory over Crowley's Ridge, improving to 2-0 on the season.
Team Stats:
|
K |
E |
TA |
PCT |
SA |
Digs |
Blocks |
| UT Southern |
44 |
25 |
113 |
.168 |
18 |
38 |
5 |
| Crowley's Ridge |
24 |
22 |
86 |
.023 |
13 |
37 |
6 |
Set-by-Set Hitting (UTS):
-
Set 1: 11 K, 10 E, 36 TA, .028
-
Set 2: 12 K, 2 E, 21 TA, .476
-
Set 3: 11 K, 4 E, 25 TA, .280
-
Set 4: 10 K, 9 E, 31 TA, .032
Beardsley powered the offense with 18 kills, adding 5 aces and 23.5 total points. Kraft followed with 13 kills and 3 aces, while Mallozzi posted a standout 30 assists, 3 aces, and a team-high 7 digs.
Coach Ruiz's First Wins
The two victories marked the first career wins for head coach Maca Ruiz, who took over the Firehawks' program this season. UT Southern's offensive balance and aggressive serving were key themes throughout the opening day of competition.
NEXT UP
UT Southern continues play in the Freed-Hardeman Labor Day Classic tomorrow, taking on Fisk at 12:30 p.m. then host Freed-Hardeman at 3:00 p.m. in the final day of the event.
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Don't miss a moment — Go Firehawks!
