PULASKI, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Southern volleyball team capped a successful opening weekend of Southern States Athletic Conference play with a 3-0 victory over Andrew College on Saturday afternoon at the Curry Athletic Complex.
The Firehawks improved to 6-9 overall and 2-0 in conference play, winning both matches during the weekend while dropping just one set in victories over Faulkner University and Andrew.
UT Southern controlled the match from start to finish, claiming set victories of 25-16, 25-14, and 25-18. The Firehawks hit an impressive .415 as a team while limiting Andrew to a .014 attacking percentage.
The Firehawks featured a balanced offensive attack with five players recording at least six kills. Ashlee Kraft paced UT Southern with 10 kills, five service aces, and seven digs, while Meloise Aureyre added nine kills and hit a blistering .727.
Amree Patterson turned in one of the most efficient performances of her career, recording eight kills on eight attempts without an error for a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage. The sophomore middle blocker also added five total blocks.
Olivia Ward contributed six kills while hitting .600, and Emma Beardsley chipped in four kills and seven digs.
Setter Jelleny Mallozzi directed the offense with 28 assists as the Firehawks hit better than .380 in all three sets and finished with 38 kills on just 11 attacking errors.
Defensively, UT Southern totaled nine blocks and eight service aces. Ashley Cope added two aces from the service line, while Patterson's presence at the net helped keep the Tigers out of rhythm throughout the afternoon.
Match Notes
- Ashlee Kraft: 10 kills, 5 aces, 7 digs
- Meloise Aureyre: 9 kills, .727 hitting percentage
- Amree Patterson: 8 kills, 1.000 hitting percentage, 5 blocks
- Olivia Ward: 6 kills, .600 hitting percentage
- Jelleny Mallozzi: 28 assists
- UT Southern hit .415 as a team
- The Firehawks improved to 2-0 in SSAC play
- UT Southern opened conference action with wins over Faulkner and Andrew, dropping only one set across the two matches
Up Next
UT Southern hits the road next weekend for a pair of SSAC matches in Louisiana. The Firehawks will face Xavier University of Louisiana on Friday, Sept. 25, before taking on Loyola University New Orleans on Saturday, Sept. 26.
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