Volleyball shows its stuff in Invitational

The Davidson Wildcat volleyball team competed in the South Carolina Invitational last weekend. The Wildcats opened up the South Carolina Invitational by sweeping UNC- Ashville 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-20). The Wildcats were very effective serving, passing, and shutting down Ashville's middles to stay focused and get the job done. Sophomore outside hitter Caroline Brown matched her career high with 19 kills to lead the Wildcats to victory. Other notable statistics and players include seniors Christine Perzinski and Erin Lupfer recording eight and seven kills respectively. Perzinski and Lupfer were often assisted by setter Ariel Ley '13, who finished with a match high 33 assists. In terms of the defense, sophomore middle hitter Tindall Sewell '14 had a match best five blocks and junior Molly Crenshaw '13 led the defense with a match high 15 digs.

Next, the Wildcats played SEC powerhouse South Carolina. Although the 'Cats lost 3-0 (25-12, 25-20, 26-24), Head coach Chris Willis said, "We were playing in a hostile environment tonight and got off to a slow start." "After we settled down, the girls played well and competed with a very physical team. We learned a lot about ourselves and look forward to tomorrow's challenge." The Wildcats got off to a slow start, perhaps in part due to the pep band, cheerleaders, and full house experience. South Carolina took control of the first set with an 11-1 run and proceeded to win the set. In the second set, the Wildcats displayed a great amount of heart, battling back from a 13-5 deficit. However, South Carolina held on for the win. In the third set, the Wildcats started to get into a rhythm, taking a 15-9 lead. But the Gamecocks showed some grit of their own, fighting back to tie the game at 24. Two consecutive errors by the Wildcats gave the victory to the Gamecocks. Caroline Brown '14 was sensational during this match, recording a double-double of 13 kills and 15 digs. Despite the tough atmosphere, the Wildcats played better as the match went on and showed that they could play with the large, athletic SEC team.

The 'Cats finished the invitational by sweeping the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-21) last Saturday. Outside hitter Brown continued her fine form, dominating both offensively and defensively in recording her second straight double-double with 19 kills and 15 digs. Other Wildcat stars include outside hitter Perzinski with eight kills and setter Ley, who dished out 34 assists. Crenshaw finished with a match high 19 digs. Despite the sweep, the match was hard fought. The Wildcat's lead was never safe as Gardner-Webb battled for every point. The 'Cats won by minimizing their errors and remaining focused. Never at any point did the Gardner-Webb team give up and they continued to cheer wildly every time they got a kill until the end of the match. When asked about the sweep, Head Coach Chris Willis said "We were able to control the tempo and energy of the match today, and it paid off with a win. Our defensive effort was outstanding and I hope we can carry this throughout the season."

Brown's efforts this weekend were rewarded by her inclusion in the All-Tournament team for the second-straight weekend. Overall, it was a great weekend for the Wildcat volleyball team. The Wildcats are now 5-2 and resume play at the High Point Invitational next weekend vs. the Panthers at 5 p.m.

Their first home match is Sept. 16 and live streaming is available on the Davidson web page.