Faulkner Box Score
Millsaps Box Score
JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven Volleyball team split their matches on the second day of the Millsaps tournament improve to 2-1 on the season. In the first match of the day they defeated conference foe Faulkner solidly 3-1, but they dropped their second match of the day to host Millsaps in a tight 3-1 loss.

Against Faulkner the Blazers started slow much like they did on Friday, dropping their first set to the quick-starting Eagles. After falling down six points, the Blazers attempted a gritty rally to get back into the set but were unable to grab ahold of the lead. They fell 22-25 in the first set.

The attitude was much different after the two teams changed sides of the court. A quick pep talk from coach Jordan Lay and a gathering in the center of the floor led by Erin Bradley and Natalie Davis got the team refocused.

The Blazers came out firing on all cylinders in the second set finishing points in bunches to take a commanding lead. Bradley fed Davis and Taylor Williams on multiple kills that ultimately turned the tide of the match. The Eagles couldn't find an answer for the Blazers' relentless attack as Belhaven won the second set 25-11.

Nothing much changed in the final two sets of the match after the pendulum had swung the way of the Blazers during the second set. Belhaven took ahold of the match winning the third 25-15 before rolling to a 25-17 win in the clinching set.

A two hour break separated Belhaven's win against Faulkner from their matchup with Majors of Millsaps College. Both teams entered the tournament finale at 2-0 and were looking to stake their claim as the tourney champions.

Belhaven started strong to start the match, leaving off where they ended against Faulkner in the first game. Some timely aces by Alyson Plyler and Samantha O'Malley carried the Blazers to victory in the first set.

All seemed well in the second as the Blazers raced to a quick 24-20 lead, forcing Millsaps to take a timeout. The stalling strategy worked for the Majors as they were able score six straight points and grab the second set win, stunning the Blazers in the process.

After the come from behind victory the Majors turned on the jets winning the third and fourth sets by a similar 25-19 score to defeat Belhaven in four sets. The Blazers were unable to find a counter to consistent attacks of Millsaps senior setter Raven Scott, who seemed to collect an assist or a kill every time she touched the ball.

Despite the loss, many Blazers performed exceptionally well in the two day tournament. Bradley collected 119 assists over the weekend and added a few clutch blocks in Faulkner match. Davis (27 kills), Williams (31 kills) , O'Malley (28 kills) and Morgan Hofacker (30 kills) all had impressive weekends at the net. O'Malley and Plyler were the leaders for service aces with five and six respectively. On the back line, Gabriella Zorzoli and Hofacker set the pace with digs, collecting 56 and 49 apiece.

After the tournament Zorzoli and Bradley were named to the All-Tournament team for the contributions on the court.

Lay was pleased with the effort overall, as well he should be following a second place finish at the tournament.
“Anytime you can start a season 2-1 you have to be happy with that. The Millsaps match was a tough loss, but we are going to build off that,” Lay said. “We have flashes of brilliance out there and sometimes signs of just needing some work.  We just need to keep building on that chemistry and that consistency on offense and defense to make it more fluid.”

Belhaven has five days off before returning to action on their home court in the Belhaven Classic starting next Friday afternoon. Come out and support your Blazers as they take on Southern University in Rugg Arena at 1 p.m. on Friday.