ST. LOUIS – Harris-Stowe State University volleyball continued their winning streak, defeating the Beavers of Blackburn College 3-2, after dropping the opening two sets. The Hornets and Beavers truly went the distance. The scores for each set are as follows:
Set 1: Blackburn 25, Harris-Stowe 16
Set 2: Blackburn 25, Harris-Stowe 19
Set 3: Harris-Stowe 25, Blackburn 18
Set 4: Harris-Stowe 25, Blackburn 20
Set 5: Harris-Stowe 15, Blackburn 12
Despite going down 2-0, giving up was not an option. With the match knotted at two sets each, the Hornets dug deep to secure the win. In the fifth set, Harris-Stowe turned the tide after going down 12-11. It was now a race to 15.
Jayden Sortor tied the set at 12 with a kill on a brilliant set by A'Nia Ware. An attack error by Elizabeth Bowyer propelled the Hornets up 13-12. Ware once again settled under the ball and placing it perfectly for Ariel Stroud to land a kill. With match-point set at 14-12, Jessica Muckensturm's attacking error earned Harris-Stowe the victory.
Ariel Stroud, A'nyla Watson, and Jayden Sortor each tallied double-digit kills in the match for Harris-Stowe. Stroud recorded eleven, Sortor 13, and Watson tallied with 15, leading the team. After a bumpy couple of first sets, these three players were able to shift the momentum in the third set. This offensive push along with the solid defense of Nickeal Clark, libero for Harris-Stowe, led them to a clutch victory.
A'Nia Ware paced the team with 35 assists while Clark dug down deep for 19 digs.
Muckensturm led the Beavers with 18 kills, Autumn Wilson performed well with 27 assists and Holly Heuerman added 20 digs.
"Perseverance and adversity both were at odds with us in the first two sets. We went down but we didn't quit. We fought harder until we got into our groove. The ladies reached within and left it all on the court. I'm super proud of them, not only did we get the win but for not giving up. Those are the character builds that they'll need once they graduate. It's amazing to watch this team play. One game at a time! #LockedIn," said Head Coach Brittany Stewart.
