Boone, N.C. – Ava Augustson and
Lauren Haynes both had 18 kills and nine digs to lead the Furman volleyball team to a 3-1 (22-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-21) victory over the Texas A&M – Commerce Lions, Saturday morning in the Paladins' final match of the Mountaineer Classic from The Holmes Center.
Furman improves to 3-5 on the season while Texas A&M – Commerce drops to 2-8 overall.
Augustson and Haynes were part of three Paladins to finish with double figure kills on Saturday as
Grainne McGrath contributed 12.
Genevieve Perry compiled eight kills.
Sarah Turner recorded her third double-double of the tournament after compiling 46 assists and 11 digs.
Andrea Aceveda led all players defensively with 18 digs.
Taryn Cast led the Lions offensively with 12 kills while Maddy Rashford and Reese Fetty both had 10. Celeste Vela finished with a double-double of 40 assists and 11 digs. Lyric Hebert totaled a team high 15 digs.
The first set featured a total of 12 ties including six in the opening 26 points before Furman got back-to-back kills from Perry and Augustson to lead 15-13. A&M – Commerce would take a one-point lead three times but the Paladins would go back in front 20-19 late following a kill from McGrath. The Lions closed out the set on a 6-3 run for the 25-22 victory.
The teams traded the first 16 points of the second set with Furman tying the score at 8-8 following a Texas A&M – Commerce attack error. The Lions followed with four consecutive points to take a 13-9 lead, forcing the Paladins into a timeout. Furman rallied back to hold a 16-14 advantage and led by two points three more times. After A&M – Commerce evened the score at 18-18, a Perry kill followed by a bad set gave the Paladins a 20-18 lead. Furman scored the final five points, with Augustson and McGrath combining for three kills, to secure the 25-19 win. Haynes registered a solo block to secure the set for the Paladins.
Furman hit .343 in the third set en route to the 25-22 triumph. The Lions held a 4-2 lead to begin the set until the Paladins used a 6-1 run to go in front 8-5 when Augustson connected on a kill. Haynes later extended Furman's lead back to 12-9 with her kill, leading to an A&M – Commerce timeout. Texas A&M – Commerce managed to tie the score five times after that and took a 19-18 lead late on a service ace. With the score tied at 20-20, the Paladins concluded the set on a 5-2 run that was capped by an A&M – Commerce attack error and an assisted block from Perry and
Sydney Tanner.
The Lions started the fourth set on a 5-1 run and led for a majority of the frame. Texas A&M – Commerce later went ahead 13-8 following an assisted block. Furman would trail by three points several times midway before tying the score at 20-20 on an attack error. The Paladins used an 8-1 run to close out the set to earn the 25-21 set win and 3-1 match victory. Haynes, Augustson and McGrath combined for Furman's final four points capped by Augustson's kill on the last point.
The Paladins posted a season high .270 hitting percentage with Augustson, Haynes and McGrath all hitting .273 or better.
Furman plays its first two home matches of the season next week, September 15-16, when it hosts USC Upstate and Marshall at Alley Gym. The Paladins entertain USC Upstate on September 15 at 6 p.m. and Marshall on September 16 at 6 p.m.
