Skyhawks sweep day two of Vette City Classic  

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (Aug. 21, 2021) – The Point University volleyball team completed day two of the Vette City Classic and walked away with two wins on Saturday, defeating Pikeville in three sets before beating Shawnee State in five sets.

Game one against Pikeville | 27-25, 25-18, 25-9

In the Skyhawks' first match of the day, Point opened the first set up with a 4-0 run, off four Pikeville errors. The Bears answered back, taking the lead 11-10, before the Skyhawks scored four points in a row to retake the lead, 14-11. The Bears would answer again, this time, going on a 5-0 run, sparked by back-to-back kills followed by back-to-back aces, to jump ahead, 19-17. Back-to-back kills by Te'a Owens would tie the score at 19, and neither team would lead by more than one for the remainder of the set, sending the game past regulation. The Skyhawks finally secured victory off back-to-back Pikeville errors, winning the first set 27-25.

In the second set, both teams were back-and-forth before back-to-back kills by Sarah Baucham and Owens secured the lead for Point. The Skyhawks would hold onto the lead for the remainder of the set, taking the second set 25-18.

Point jumped out to a 12-3 lead in the third set, but the Bears would answer back with a 5-0 run. This was as close as Pikeville would get, as the Skyhawks followed by going on a 13-1 run to end the game. Point's rally began with a kill from Baucham, and Owens had six aces during the run.

Owens led the offensive front for the Skyhawks, recording 13 kills and helping on the defensive end with eight digs. Kaitlyn Hawke recorded her second double-double of the season with 22 assists and 11 digs.

Game two against Shawnee State | 26-24, 13-25, 26-24, 20-25, 15-11

Both teams battled it out in the second match of the day for the Skyhawks, taking the match to five sets. Point jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first set and held onto its lead until Shawnee State tied the set at 23. A kill by Whitney Ward helped the Skyhawks retake the lead and the Bears tied the score once more before a kill by Baucham followed by a Shawnee State error gave Point the set one victory, 26-24.

In the second set, Shawnee State took the lead 8-3 and only allowed the Skyhawks to score 10 more points as the Bears took the second set 25-13. Point bounced back in the third set, winning 26-24. Following the first two points of the set, the Skyhawks held the lead for the first half of the set until the Bears tied the score at 14. Both teams were back-and-forth for the remainder of the set, but three consecutive kills, the first by Ward, followed by back-to-back kills by Owens, would give Point the victory in set three.

The Skyhawks carried the momentum over to the fourth set, opening with a 4-0 run before the Bears would go on a 6-0 run and jump ahead 18-12. Shawnee State would hold onto the lead for the remainder of the set, winning 25-20 and force the fifth set.

In the deciding set, Point would take the lead to start the set off a Shawnee State error, followed by a kill by Kelsey Turner. The Skyhawks would hold on to the lead for the remainder of the set, winning 15-11.

Owens and Baucham each recorded 13 kills, with Owens posting her first double-double of the season with 16 digs. Ward also recorded 16 digs and posted nine kills, Hawke anchored the offense with 39 assists and Audrey Blaschke helped the Skyhawks' defensive efforts with 14 digs.

Up next

The Skyhawks finished the Vette City Classic with a 3-1 record to start the season off. Point will compete again on Saturday, Aug. 28, in the Berry College Tri-Match, in Mount Berry, Georgia. The Skyhawks will first face Berry at 12 p.m. before facing Shorter University at 2 p.m.