GREENVILLE, S.C. - Freshman Bella Tolone and sophomore Mikaela Schultz each tallied 14 kills to lead the Furman volleyball team past Presbyterian, 25-11, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, Thursday night in the Paladins' home opener at Alley Gymnasium in Greenville, S.C.

The Paladins improve to 3-1 overall, while Presbyterian falls to 2-2 with the loss. 

Furman posted a season-high .299 attack percentage with 60 kills in the victory.  Senior Neci Harris hit .565 to pace the team, adding 13 kills and a team-high five blocks, while Tolone added 13 digs for a double-double.  Junior Sarah Turner led the Paladins with 26 assists and recorded 14 digs, while junior Andrea Aceveda notched a team-high 27 digs and tallied 10 assists, giving each a double-double on the evening.  Maya Mrus added eight kills and 11 digs.  

Erin Cooke scored 16 kills to pace the Blue Hose, while Kinsey Bailey posted a team-high 23 assists.  Anna Hewitt led Presbyterian with 14 digs. 

The Paladins jumped out to a quick 6-1 advantage in the opening set then stretched the lead to 13-5 to force a Presbyterian timeout.  After Furman built a 19-7 margin, the teams traded points back and forth to 22-11, then the Paladins reeled off three-straight points for the 25-11 set victory with consecutive kills by Schultz to end the set. 

After the teams fought to a 4-4 tie in set two, Furman went on a 8-2 run fueled by three kills from Mrus, to lead, 12-6.  The Blue Hose clawed back with a 10-4 run of their own to cut the deficit to 16-14 and remained within two at 18-16.  Following a Paladin timeout, Furman went ahead, 21-17, off a kill by Mrus and block assists from Harris and Schultz.  The teams traded the next four points, then Harris posted back-to-back kills to give Furman match point, and Tolone sealed the 25-20 win with a kill from Aceveda. 

Presbyterian built a 7-5 advantage to open the third set before Furman put together six-straight points to regain the momentum, 11-7.  A kill by Tolone and a solo block from Kelsey Watkins opened the run, then consecutive kills from Schultz continued the rally.  The teams were tied at 15-all before the Blue Hose won two-straight points to lead, 17-15, and maintained the lead, 23-20.  A service error by PC and a kill from Tolone brought the Paladins within one at 23-22, but two attack errors gave Presbyterian the set victory, 25-22. 

The teams started set four tied at 5-5 then Furman later went on an 8-0 run to lead, 17-7.  A kill from Harris put the Paladins ahead, 19-9, then Presbyterian scored four-straight points to pull within five. After a timeout, Furman extended the lead to 22-15 off a kill from Tolone and two errors by the Blue Hose.  Presbyterian scored six of the next seven points to cut the deficit to 23-21, then a kill from Schultz gave the Paladins match point, and an attack error by the Blue Hose sealed the Furman victory, 25-22.

The Paladins are back in action on Saturday when they entertain Elon 7 p.m. at Alley Gymnasium.