Albion, Mich - Albion Womens Volleyball went undefeated in the Albion Invite. The Britons defeated The University of Pittsburgh-Bradford (25-11, 25-11, 25-12), St. John Fisher (25-27, 26-24, 25-22, 25-14), and MSOE (25-16, 25-21, 20-25, 21-25, 15-6).
Game 1 | Universtiy of Pittsburgh at Bradford
The Britons started the game out on a 10-1 run that was in part to three kills by
Carly Frank and four blocks by
Margaret Jones. The Brits would go on trading runs of 3-1 before the Brits would take the first set. Set 2 would tart of very similar with the Britons going on a 7-1 run where Frank had three back-to-back kills. Two point runs would be traded before the Britons would go on a 6-0 run. A kill by
Emma Pagliarella would end the set for the Brits putting them just one away from their first win of the season. The third set would begin with the Brits going on an 11-0 run with five kills (Jones (2), Frank(2), Edmunds and three aces by
Molly Edmunds for the Brits. More aggressive offense for the Brits would lead them to finish out the set and win the match.
Frank led the the Britons with 12 kills and Paige Williams led the defense with 12 digs while
Ava Wilcox added 11, while Jones added four blocks. Edmunds also led the Britons with four aces from the service line.
With the win Head Coach Kristin Slamer-De St.Aubin recorded her 200th Career Win with the Britons.
Game 2 | St. John Fisher
Set 1 was a back and forth battle. Both teams came into day two of the tournament looking to win. The teams would trade off points until St. John Fisher would string together three kills to end the set in extra points. The Britons would come out with vengeance in set two going on a 12-4 run off kills by Frank, Jones, and Pagliarella.
Carson Howard would also record back-to-back kills to put the Britons up 10, 16-6. The Cardinals did not concede, however. They battled back before tying the game at 18 all. Both teams would trade off points before Jones, Howard, and
Bri Whitfield were able to put the ball away and finish the set for the second straight set in extras and even the score at 1-1.
Set three started with much back and forth before Pagliarella would connect on two kills to put the Britons up 12-5. Both teams would continue to battle, but Frank continued to put the ball away recording five kills for the Britons in a nine play stretch to put the Britons up six, 21-15. The Cardinals would continue to try and battle but a block by Howard and Jones would end the set and put the Brits up 2-1. The fourth set started back and forth, however the Britons kept the pressure on the Cardinals and continued to force them into errors. The Brits offense would also continue to find the court and continued to apply pressure to the Cardinals serve receive. The Brits would go on to win 25-14, claiming their second game of the weekend.
Frank once again led the Brits with 15 kills, while both Williamson and Frank contributed two aces from the service line. Williams would anchor the defense with 29 digs and Jones would add in five blocks.
Game 3 | MSOE
The final game of the Albion Invite would be a battle. Both teams were looking to remain undefeated on the weekend and were going to battle till the end. Set 1 began as a back and forth battle before Pagliarella was able to string together a hand ful of kills to give the Britons a five point lead. Howard would add a pair of kills, followed by an ace from Williamson and a kill from Whitfield to go up 14-6. The Raiders would continue to try and come back, however a kill by Frank would end the set for the Britons. In set 2 the Raiders came back to battle. The set was back and forth before the Raiders would take a four point lead over the Brits 18-14. Jones, Whitfield, and Franks would bring the Brits back with kills to give them a one point advantage. Despite efforts by the Raiders a kill block and a kill by Pagliarella would put the Brits up 2-0.
The Raiders would come out in set 3 and maintain control from early on. Despite efforts from the Britons offense, the Raiders would take their first set and force a fourth. The Britons came out the gate swinging, recording eight kills to go up 12-7. The Raiders would continue to fight back and tie the game up 14 all. The Raiders would continue to battle and despite kills by the Britons offesne, would take the set to even the score 2-2 and force a deciding set.
The Britons came out ready to put away their third victory of the weekend. They open on a 5-1 run with back-to-back kills by Pagliarella. The Raiders would try and respond but kills by Whitfield and Howard would put the Brits up 12-5. Despite a late error on the Brits, Howard, Whitfield, and Frank would record three straight kills to finish the match and stay undefeated on the weekend.
Williams recorded an impressive 35 digs in the match, while also adding three aces. Franks led the offense with 16 kills and Pagliarella added four blocks.
Franks would lead the team with 47 kills in the three matches, while Edmunds and Williams would both record five aces across the weekend. Williams would also record 76 digs, averaging 6.3 digs per set. Jones would add an impressive 15 blocks (six solo and nine assists) over the three matches.
"Very happy with our start. Had growth moments and great execution when we needed it. We played some great teams this weekend who put great offensive and defensive pressure on us. Proud of how we stepped up and have more work to do" said Head Coach Kristin Slamer-De St. Aubin when asked about her thoughts on her teams performance throughout the weekend.
The Britons return to action on Tuesday September 12th as they host the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern at 7PM.
