BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Following its seventh straight-set victory of the 2018 season, Hendrix looked to finish off the second weekend of Southern Athletic Association play with another win to remain atop the SAA standings. Hendrix (10-1, 3-0 SAA) did just that after a 3-1 set victory over the Birmingham-Southern College Panthers (7-4, 1-1 SAA) inside Bill Battle Coliseum on Sunday afternoon highlighted by a double-double performance by senior
Amber Melcher (21 assists, 11 digs). The 10-1 start to the season continues to be the greatest start to a Hendrix Volleyball season in school history. The 3-0 record to open up SAA play is the best start since the 2015 season when the Warriors cruised to a SAA Championship and made it to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III National Championships.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Hendrix 3, Birmingham-Southern 1
Records: Warriors 10-1, 3-0 | Panthers 7-4, 1-1
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HOW IT HAPPENED
- After four lead changes and 11 ties in the opening set en route to a 25-22 set one win.
- Trailing 18-21 in the second stanza, an attack by junior
Kiersten Huitt ignited a 7-2 run to take a 2-0 set lead.
- Hendrix would go on to drop the third set 25-27.
- After a 5-0 run by the Panthers to go up 20-16, the Warriors manufactured a 5-1 run and an eventual 4-0 run for the set four victory and the match win.
- Dwyer recorded a team-best 20 digs on the day. Sophomore
Jeanette McGrath added 16.
- Sophomore
Allison Long registered six blocked in the win.
- Despite Long hitting .105 in the victory, the Springfield, Mo. native still holds the SAA 2018 lead in attack percentage at .359
- Hendrix joins Berry as the last two remaining teams undefeated in SAA play.
WHAT WAS SAID
"I don't think I took a breath that entire match," Coach
Brittany Newberry stated excitingly. "It was point for point. BSC is a solid team and played a great match. I am proud of the resilience my players showed when we were down in the 4th set. They fought back. In practice, we have been focusing on ending games and closing games out and they did a great job of that today."
UP NEXT
After notching its third-straight conference win, the Orange & Black remain on the road for two more conference contests before returning back to Grove Gymnasium. Hendrix takes on Sewanee Sept. 22 and Centre Sept. 23 at their respective venues. The Warriors and Sewanee are set to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday.
