Greensboro College Volleyball Wins Labor Day Invitational To Open 2017

Volleyball Wins Labor Day Invitational To Open 2017
from Wes Gullett, Greensboro College Sports Information Director

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro College volleyball team opened their 2017 season by winning the Greensboro College Labor Day Invitational.

The Pride topped the Panthers of Ferrum College, 3-0, to open the tournament before defeating the Knights of Surry Community College in an exhibition match, 3-2.

Greensboro fell behind in the first set against the Panthers, 10-6, before using a 5-0 run to take a one-point lead.

Danyale Berry, who finished with a match-high 14 kills, started the run with an electrifying kill off an assist from freshman Briley Hale-Jarrell. As the run progressed, Emily Horn and Jordan Ware tallied one kill, while Hale-Jarrell added a kill of her own.

The Pride then continued to ride the momentum from the run, as they were able to pull out to a 21-13 lead, following a 10-3 run, before winning the set 25-16.

Greensboro was then able to breeze by the Panthers in the second set, 25-11, to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

After establishing the two-set lead, Greensboro and Ferrum traded points in the early part of the final set before Greensboro established a 16-10 lead following an 11-4 spree.

Horn got the run started with two big kills to the Panthers back line, while Shayla Moss and Evan Sherer added two huge blocks to fuel the rally.

Greensboro did not look back from that point as they went on to close out the match with a 25-13 victory.

Horn joined Berry in the double-kill category with 11, while Moss contributed seven kills. Kate Clark paced the Greensboro offense with 28 kills and Tori Belcher finished with a match-high 14 digs.

“It was great to start out the season with a win and get past the opening match jitters,” first-year Head Coach Kathy Bullock said. “The girls accomplished a lot as Ferrum defeated them twice last season.”

Following the victory, the Pride topped the Knights in exciting fashion.

After Surry was able to take the first set of the match, Greensboro evened the match at one with a 42-40 marathon victory in Set 2.

Greensboro then opened Set 3 on a 6-2 run before going on to establish their largest lead at 23-12, following a kill by Berry, before winning 25-13 to take a 2-1 lead.

However, the Pride struggled in the fourth set as the Knights would not go away and was able to force a decisive fifth-set with a 25-19 win.

The Pride rebounded early in the final set as they opened with a 5-2 run behind Horn, who finished with a match-high 22 kills.

Surry then tried to climb back into the set but Greensboro used a 6-1 run to close out the set, 15-8, and secure the tournament victory.

“The second match was a lot closer than I would have liked it to be but I was happy with the girls energy all day,” Bullock added.

The Pride will return to action Saturday when they open play at the 2017 Greensboro College Volleyball Invitational. Greensboro will take on Elizabeth City State University at 10 a.m. before squaring off with the Hawks of Huntingdon College at 4 p.m.

For more information on Greensboro College volleyball, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.