SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On the opening day of the Terrier Invite, the Presbyterian College volleyball team (3-9) fell to the Valparaiso Beacons (7-3) in a straight-set defeat.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST SET
Valpo opened the match with an early 3-0 lead before Presbyterian got on the board, courtesy of a powerful kill from Courtney Williams. Both teams traded points, with extended rallies. Ashley Miller fueled PC's offense, tallying three kills to narrow the score to 7-5. A Valpo attack error and a well-placed service ace from Courtney Aulbaugh brought the score even at 7-7.
 
However, Valpo responded with a four-point run, pushing the score to 11-7 before a service error broke their streak. The Beacons continued to apply pressure with a pair of kills, but another service miscue from Valpo gave PC a much-needed break. Seizing the opportunity, Presbyterian mounted a rally of their own, sparked by a strong kill from Williams that closed the gap to 13-11.
 
Valpo hit the 15-point mark with two more kills, but their momentum was interrupted by a service error, keeping PC within striking distance at 15-13. The Beacons extended their lead with two quick points, prompting PC to call their first timeout of the match at 17-13.
 
Coming out of the break, Miller and Elyse Hutchinson each notched a kill to keep PC in the fight, but Valpo held their ground, pushing the score to 19-15. Miller recorded her fifth kill of the set just before Valpo reached 20 points. In a back-and-forth exchange, a kill from Hannah Rowe brought PC within three at 21-18, but Valpo responded with another point to make it 22-18, forcing PC to take another timeout.
 
In the final stretch, setter Anna Baranski matched a Valpo kill, keeping the Blue Hose alive at 24-19. Williams added another late kill to bring PC to 20 points, but the Beacons closed out the first set 25-20.
 
SECOND SET
The second set began as a tight contest, with both teams exchanging points early on. Ava Smith delivered a kill for Presby, while the Blue Hose edged ahead 4-2 after a kill from Miller and a commanding solo block by Williams. Valpo quickly leveled the score at 5-5 despite another Miller kill, using the momentum to fuel a six-point run that forced PC to call an early timeout, trailing 9-5.
 
After the break, Valpo added another point before Hutchinson responded with a kill, and Aulbaugh delivered her second ace of the match. However, Valpo's relentless attack continued, as they rattled off six straight points to extend their lead to 16-7. The Blue Hose fought back, with Williams and Baranski each contributing kills, followed by a service ace from Baranski to cut the deficit to 16-10.
 
The teams then traded points, with Williams delivering a pair of kills and Miller adding one of her own, bringing the score to 22-15. Despite a late Miller kill, Valpo reached set point at 24-16. Rowe responded with a kill of her own while a Beacon attack error allowed PC to inch closer at 24-18, but Valpo sealed the set with a final point, winning 25-18.
 
THIRD SET
The third set started evenly, with both teams exchanging points, highlighted by a powerful kill from Miller. Valpo responded with two consecutive points, but Hutchinson countered with a kill to close the gap to 5-4. A Beacon block gave Valpo a slight edge at 5-3, but a service error on their side, followed by kills from Smith and Julia Yurkovich, pushed the Blue Hose into the lead at 6-5.
 
Valpo quickly reclaimed the advantage at 7-6, but Yurkovich leveled the score with another kill. Over the next 20 points, both teams traded blows. Presbyterian stayed in the hunt with a service ace from Celimar Hoyos, two kills from Williams, and additional contributions from Smith and Yurkovich, keeping the score deadlocked at 17-17.
 
Despite a kill from Hutchinson, Valpo managed to pull ahead 19-17, marking the first time they had a two-point lead since 5-3, forcing PC to call a timeout. The Beacons came out strong, taking the next point to extend their lead, but a powerful Hutchinson kill kept PC within striking distance at 21-19.
 
Both sides continued to trade points, maintaining the two-point difference, with Valpo up 23-21. Ultimately, Valpo held their nerve and closed out the set 25-21, securing a straight-set victory over the PC.
 
NOTABLES
- Baranski finished with 26 assists and 10 digs, claiming her ninth straight double-double.
- Williams recorded eight kills while hitting at .333 percent.
- Miller took her first double-figure kill match this season (10).
 
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose will wrap up competition in the Terrier Invite tomorrow with a match against SC State with a first serve at 2:30 p.m.