Win Streak Snapped as SVU Downs Marlins

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Virginia Wesleyan College volleyball team saw its five match winning streak halted Tuesday in a 25-22, 27-25, 25-20 loss to Southern Virginia University. The Marlins had won 13 straight sets coming into the match.

It was Senior Night for the Marlins as Tiffany Barrett, Maddy McMurry, and Katie Brooks were recognized in a pre-match ceremony.

Virginia Wesleyan had a chance to close out the first set after leading 22-21, but the Knights won the next four points, capitalized by a pair of Penny Gwynn kills, to claim the initial victory and end the Marlins' set victory streak.

The Marlins held a large lead in the second set as well, leading 21-14, and 24-19, needing just one point to even the match up at 1-1.

Six-straight kills by Southern Virginia, three coming from Hannah Allred, put the momentum on the side of the visitors. An attack error brought the Marlins even at 25-all, but another pair of Allred kills finished off the set for SVU.

That strong hitting led the Knights to a third set win as well, fighting back after trailing 19-17. Six more kills and a service ace put Southern Virginia up 24-19 and in position for an Allred kill that would close out the contest.

Gwynn had 16 kills while Allred finished with 14 as the Knights hit .317 as a team. Valerie Baety had 22 assists as Laree Crockett contributed 18 for Southern Virginia (6-12).

Barrett, Doneisha Hall, and Dare Wright finished with eight kills each for the Marlins, while Meghan Wood contributed 21 assists, just one off her career high.

Virginia Wesleyan (13-13/4-4) travels to Hollins University Saturday to face Hollins (2-20/0-8) and Greensboro College (16-9).