-Photo contributed by Jason Spencer
Mandi Mooney
Editor-in-Chief
September 23, 2005
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Sophomore Ashley Lokken goes up for a block during home game. -Photo contributed by Jason Spencer |
For the first time in over three years, the Milligan College volleyball team defeated previously unbeaten Appalachian Athletic Conference rival King College in a nerve-racking five-game match on Tuesday night.
“(Beating King) feels great!” said sophomore Alyssa Graber. “We all worked so hard and we pulled together, played as a team and we won. It’s a great feeling to give them their first loss!”
In the first game, the Lady Buffs gained an early lead that soon fizzled out as King rapidly came from behind. Milligan fought back to earn a victory.
“We get comfortable when we get ahead, and we let them creep up on us,” Graber said. “We just have to stay focused throughout the whole match.”
In the second game, neither team was able to maintain a lead over the other. Control of the game bounced back and forth until the end when King barely pulled ahead to win by two, bringing the score to 1-1.
The Lady Buffs once again came out strong for the third game. Nevertheless, their lead did not last for long as King caught up to tie the score at nine. From there, King pulled away on a seven-point run, leaving Milligan to trail throughout the rest of the game.
For the fourth game, the Lady Buffs were prepared to fight for their right to stay in the match. King and Milligan stayed closed during the beginning, but Milligan picked up its momentum and eventually led by 12, winning 30-19 to tie the score 2-2.
For the fourth game in a row, Milligan headed into a fifth game. The teams stayed neck-and-neck as each battled to gain the lead. For each point Milligan gained, King would return with a point of its own. With the game tied at 12, the Lady Buffs caught a final burst of energy to defeat King 15-12.
“Well, thanks to (head coach Kim Hyatt), we are in excellent shape,” Graber said. “We have no problem going to five games and most teams we play are exhausted by the fifth game, but we just keep going which is a major advantage for us.”
The win was Milligan’s fourth consecutive victory, bringing the team’s overall record for the season to 4-4 and 4-3 in the conference.
“We finally proved to ourselves that we could win,” Graber said. “Now, we know what it takes to win – hardwork, heart and teamwork. We have set goals and now we are going to achieve them.”