GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The University of Tennessee Southern volleyball team opened play at the Aquinas/Cornerstone Invitational on Friday, falling to No. 15 Mount Vernon Nazarene University in straight sets (25-21, 25-16, 25-18) at Mol Arena.
Despite the setback, the Firehawks put together a strong offensive performance against one of the NAIA's top programs, hitting .220 as a team and totaling 40 kills.
UT Southern was led by Ashlee Kraft, who recorded a match-high 16 kills while attacking at an impressive .419 clip. Kraft also added 11 digs for a double-double effort.
Meloise Aureyre added 10 kills and 11 digs, while Amree Patterson continued her strong start to the season with eight kills on a .500 hitting percentage and three block assists.
Jelleny Mallozzi paced the Firehawk offense with 28 assists and six digs, while Emma Beardsley contributed 11 digs and four kills. Ashley Cope also reached double figures defensively with 10 digs.
UT Southern was competitive throughout the opening set, matching the Cougars point-for-point before Mount Vernon Nazarene pulled away late for a 25-21 victory. The nationally-ranked Cougars used a .469 hitting percentage in the second set to build momentum and completed the sweep in the third.
Match Notes
- Ashlee Kraft finished with a match-high 16 kills and 11 digs.
- Meloise Aureyre recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs.
- Amree Patterson hit .500 with eight kills and three block assists.
- Jelleny Mallozzi tallied 28 assists.
- UT Southern posted a .220 team hitting percentage against the nationally ranked Cougars.
Up Next
The Firehawks conclude play at the Aquinas/Cornerstone Invitational on Saturday with a pair of matches. UT Southern will face Olivet Nazarene University at 11 a.m. before taking on host and No. 17 Aquinas College at 1 p.m. in Grand Rapids.
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