CLEVELAND, Tenn.-Visiting Auburn University at Montgomery took complete control in the first two sets and withstood a comeback by Lee University in the third stanza in posting a 3-0 (25-8, 25-17, 25-18) victory over the Lady Flames inside Walker Arena on Friday evening.
The defeat dropped Lee to 12-9 overall and 4-5 in GSC play. The Warhawks improved to 15-6, 5-4. It doesn't get any easier for the Lady Flames, West Florida, unbeaten against GSC competition, will visit on Saturday afternoon (1 p.m.).
Using a powerful attacking force and a service that kept the Lady Flames off balance, the Warhawks wasted no time in coasting to the 25-8 first set victory. Lee battled back briefly in set two but visiting AUM displayed balance over the playing court in the 25-17 win.
The Warhawks jumped in front again in set number three, but this time the Lady Flames had some answers sparked by the play of Sophia Lippert and Miya-Cole Brown. It was Brown's first appearance of the season. According to Coach Christa Fabre, Brown, a transfer from North Alabama, had been battling injuries.
In set three, Lee grabbed the lead midway of the frame and forced an AUM timeout. The Warhawks recaptured the upper hand, but the Lady Flames posted another comeback and grabbed a second lead. AUM ordered its final timeout of the frame. The talented visitors reorganized and finally pulled away to win 25-18 against a never-say-die Lee squad.
The balanced AUM attack was paced by Alessia Cappal with 10 kills, five aces and nine digs. Myllena Torquetti was on target for nine kills and a blistering .562 attack mark. She also added six big blocks. Savannah Sebek dished off 19 assists and served up 14 aces while running mate libero Kaleigh Fitzgerald also had four aces and a team-leading 14 digs. All totaled the Warhawks had a .310 attack percentage, 14 aces and 17 blocks.
For the Lady Flames, Lippert came on strong in the final set and finished with eight kills. Allie Scurlock followed with five kills. Abby Stroh was held in check by the Warhawks but still managed four kills, three aces and 10 digs. Clarissa Soza came away with a team-leading 12 assists and 10 digs. Brown came on in the final set and tallied three kills, an ace and two blocks.
Coach Christa Fabre's thoughts:
"AUM is a strong team; they have several players who can put the ball away and we struggled to answer offensively.
"We had one solid stretch of good volleyball but apart from that, we struggled to put it all together. To put it plainly, we were outplayed in every category.
"We did see some good things from players who have been injured and we are happy to have them back on the floor."
