SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Presbyterian College Blue Hose volleyball team (1-4) dropped two five-set matches on Friday, September 6. First to the Campbell Fighting Camels (1-3) 3-2 (20-25, 25-20, 16-25, 25-22, 12-15) followed by the Queens Royals (1-4) 3-2 (28-20, 21-25, 25-19, 25-23, 11-15).
 
COACH BENSON'S THOUGHTS
"Tough battles, we went back and forth with Campbell and did some good things. In the beginning of the season there isn't a lot of data or film so we have to go out there and make on the fly adjustments. I thought we did well, unfortunately couldn't get it in the fifth set, but overall just a good experience and good play from our team.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – CAMPBELL
FIRST SET
Presbyterian struck first in the match, but Campbell quickly responded, leveling the score. A pair of kills from Julia Yurkovich, combined with one from Elyse Hutchinson, gave the Blue Hose an early 4-1 advantage. The Fighting Camels retaliated with two kills of their own, trimming PC's lead to just one at 4-3. Despite another powerful attack from Yurkovich, Campbell managed to tie the set at 5-5.
 
Presbyterian regrouped with a surge of offense, highlighted by kills from Hannah Rowe and Yurkovich, pushing the score to 9-5. However, Campbell fought back, going on a run to even things up at 9-9. The two sides continued to trade points, deadlocking the set at 10-10. The momentum swung in Campbell's favor after a lengthy rally, giving them their first lead of the match at 11-10.
 
Rowe responded with a clutch kill to level the score once again, but Campbell seized control with a three-point run, moving ahead 14-11. Presbyterian didn't back down, as a huge block from Brittney Daphnis and Yurkovich, followed by a well-placed service ace by Rowe, saw the Blue Hose reclaim the lead at 16-14.
 
The Fighting Camels then mounted another rally, taking four consecutive points to regain the upper hand at 18-16. Although Presbyterian's next point managed to halt the run briefly, Campbell extended their lead with another four-point burst, making it 22-17. A block by Courtney Williams and Hutchinson helped close the gap, along with a pair of Campbell errors that brought PC within striking distance at 22-20. Ultimately, Campbell closed out the first set, winning 25-20.
 
SECOND SET
After each team exchanged a point, a well-placed cross-court pass from Williams set up Yurkovich for a powerful kill, tying the score at 3-3. Campbell responded by taking three of the next four points, pushing ahead 6-4. However, kills from Hutchinson, Yurkovich, and Rowe helped the Blue Hose reclaim the lead at 7-6.
 
A service error by the Fighting Camels tied the score once more, but Rowe quickly fired down two more kills to give PC a 10-8 advantage. Campbell struck back with a strong attack, but Daphnis recorded her first kill of the match, maintaining Presbyterian's lead at 11-9. Although Campbell responded with a kill of their own, a string of attack errors from the opposition allowed PC to extend their lead to 14-10.
 
The teams traded points over the next few rallies, bringing the score to 17-13. Campbell then started to close the gap, scoring three consecutive points to make it 17-16, still in favor of the Blue Hose. Presbyterian halted the run with kills from Rowe and Daphnis, pushing their tally to 19 points, but Campbell stayed close behind, cutting the deficit to 19-18.
 
A pivotal moment came when a long rally ended with Rowe's kill landing right on the backline, giving PC a crucial boost and extending their lead to 23-19. Campbell managed to notch a kill, reaching the 20-point mark, but a timely service error handed PC match point at 24-20. Courtney Aulbaugh sealed the second set in style for the Blue Hose with a service ace, securing the 25-20 win.
 
THIRD SET
The Fighting Camels opened the third set with a quick kill, but Rowe immediately responded with one of her own. Both teams exchanged two more points, with Williams contributing a kill for PC, tying the score at 3-3. The back-and-forth continued, and another kill from Yurkovich kept the tie intact at 5-5. However, Campbell seized momentum, winning four consecutive points to take a 9-5 lead.
 
Rowe managed to break the streak with a well-placed kill, but Campbell quickly added a kill and a service ace, extending their advantage to 11-6. PC fought back with two points, led by another Rowe kill, closing the gap to 11-8 as they chipped away at the deficit. Yet, Campbell responded with a five-point run, widening their lead to 16-8.
 
A service error stopped Campbell's run, and PC capitalized with a block from Williams and Hutchinson, followed by a strong kill from Williams to bring the score to 17-11. Despite the Blue Hose's efforts, Campbell took the next two points, stretching their lead to 19-11. Yurkovich landed another kill from the left side, but the Fighting Camels were first to reach 20 points, holding a commanding 20-12 lead.
 
Rowe added yet another kill, though Campbell quickly answered with one of their own. A block assist from Anna Baranski and Daphnis made it 21-14, but Campbell continued to hold their advantage. After the teams traded points, Campbell found themselves just one point away from winning the set at 24-15. Rowe managed to add one more kill for PC, but Campbell closed out the third set with a 25-15 win.
 
FOURTH SET
Williams opened the fourth set with a commanding solo block, setting the tone for the Blue Hose. Although Campbell responded with the next two points, Rowe quickly tied it up with a kill. Presbyterian continued to apply pressure, adding a kill from Ashley Miller and capitalizing on a Campbell attack error to move ahead 4-2. The Fighting Camels managed to take the next point, but a long rally ended in PC's favor, extending their lead to 5-3. Another attack error from Campbell gave the Blue Hose a three-point cushion at 6-3.
 
Campbell countered with a four-point run to edge in front at 7-6. The teams then traded blows, with Campbell maintaining a narrow 9-8 lead. A Campbell attack error tied the score at 9-9, and the back-and-forth continued until it stood deadlocked at 10-10. Presbyterian capitalized on two more Campbell attack errors to gain a slim 12-10 lead, but the Fighting Camels quickly equalized once again at 12-12.
 
Campbell briefly took the lead with a block, but Baranski's well-timed kill evened things up at 13-13. The teams continued to exchange points, bringing the score to 14-14, before the Blue Hose surged ahead with a crucial five-point run. A solo block from Miller and a service ace by Rowe fueled the streak, giving Presbyterian a 19-14 advantage.
 
Campbell fought back with two kills and a service ace, cutting PC's lead to 19-17. A kill from Williams and an ace from Celimar Hoyos extended the Blue Hose's lead to 22-17. Although Campbell snagged the next point, an attack error by the Fighting Camels gave PC their 23rd point. Campbell kept the pressure on with a kill, narrowing the gap to 23-19, but Presbyterian maintained control.
 
Despite a strong attack from Miller, Campbell claimed the next point, making it 23-20. A service ace brought the Fighting Camels even closer at 23-21, but Miller answered with a crucial kill to bring PC to set point at 24-21. Campbell managed to win another point, but Baranski sealed the set for the Blue Hose with a kill, closing it out 25-22.
 
FIFTH SET
The Blue Hose started the deciding set by capitalizing on a Campbell attack error to take the first point. However, the Fighting Camels quickly responded with three unanswered kills to pull ahead 3-1. Miller broke Campbell's run with a kill of her own, narrowing the gap to 3-2. The teams continued to trade points, pushing the score to 6-5 with Campbell still holding a slight edge.
 
Campbell was the first to reach eight points, winning the next two rallies and forcing the teams to switch sides with the Fighting Camels up 8-5. Presbyterian responded by closing the gap with two points, led by a clutch kill from Hutchinson, but Campbell answered with three more points, extending their lead to 11-7.
 
A service error by the Fighting Camels brought PC within three points at 11-8, but Campbell quickly rattled off three consecutive kills to reach match point at 14-8. Refusing to back down, Rowe added another kill, followed by a solo block from Daphnis, cutting the deficit to 14-10. Campbell then committed an attack error, giving PC more life at 14-11.
 
Rowe kept the Blue Hose hopes alive with a timely service ace, bringing the score to 14-12, but Campbell closed the door on the comeback, sealing the set 15-12 and taking the match.
 
NOTABLES
- Rowe tallied her second double-double of the season behind 17 kills and 14 digs. She also added four service aces to her efforts.
- Yurkovich finished with nine kills at a .240 hitting percentage.
 
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – QUEENS
FIRST SET
The match began with a lengthy rally, ultimately ending in PC's favor after a Queens attack error. Another error by the Royals allowed the Blue Hose to jump out to an early 2-0 lead. Queens quickly tied the score at 2-2, but Rowe reclaimed the lead for PC with a decisive kill. The Royals responded by rattling off five straight points, building a 7-3 advantage. An attack error halted their streak, and the teams exchanged points until Queens held an 8-5 lead.
 
Queens surged again, scoring the next three points to extend their lead to 11-5. Rowe then assisted Hutchinson on a kill, followed by a quick strike from Baranski and a block from Hutchinson, narrowing the gap to 11-8. However, the Royals answered back with another three-point run, stretching their lead to 14-8.
 
Rowe's kill, combined with another attack error from the Royals, brought PC within four points. A service error momentarily stalled the Blue Hose's momentum, but Rowe responded with another kill. An assisted block by Ava Smith and Williams cut the deficit to 15-12, while a powerful kill from Williams forced Queens to call a timeout as PC closed in at 15-13.
 
After the break, Williams recorded a solo block, and a Queens attack error leveled the score at 15-15. Baranski then set up Williams for another kill, giving PC the lead for the first time since the opening minutes. Queens quickly regained control with a four-point burst, making it 19-16. But a pair of errors by the Royals, followed by a service ace from Rowe, tied the score once again at 19-19.
 
Queens edged ahead to 20-19 after a PC attack error, but the Blue Hose quickly responded with a kill from Williams to knot it back up. Hoyos then fired a service ace to give PC a 21-20 lead, and another Williams kill extended it to 22-20. A service error trimmed the advantage to one, and Queens tied the set at 22-22 shortly after.
 
The Royals briefly regained the lead with a kill at 23-22, but Williams responded with her fourth kill of the set, tying the score once again at 23-23. Queens inched ahead to set point at 24-23, but Hutchinson kept PC alive by tying it at 24-24. Queens reached set point again at 25-24, only to commit a service error that brought the score level at 25-25.
 
A service ace from Presbyterian put Queens back at set point, but Baranski's clutch kill made it 26-26. This time, Williams took charge with a kill, giving PC set point at 27-26. Queens refused to back down, blocking Rowe's attack to tie it at 27-27, before a Royals kill put them back in the driver's seat at 28-27. Rowe delivered another kill to tie the score at 28-28, but Queens secured back-to-back kills to close out the thrilling first set 30-28.
 
SECOND SET
Queens claimed the first point of the second set, but Presbyterian quickly tied the score at 1-1. A well-placed assist from Baranski set up Yurkovich for a kill, giving PC a 2-1 lead. However, Queens responded with three consecutive points, taking a 4-2 advantage. Williams briefly slowed their momentum with a kill, but the Royals answered with another strike to extend their lead to 5-3.
 
Yurkovich's kill cut the deficit to one, but Queens immediately regained control with another kill, making it 6-4. The Royals then went on a run, increasing their lead to 8-4 before a kill from Hutchinson ended their streak. Queens, however, kept up the pressure with three unanswered points, stretching their lead to 11-5.
 
Hutchinson added another kill, but Queens matched it with a kill of their own. Rowe followed up with a kill for PC, but a Blue Hose attack error allowed the Royals to take the next point. The Blue Hose then fought back, scoring four of the next five points, with Williams leading the charge, bringing the score to 14-11.
 
Queens responded with two quick kills, forcing Presbyterian to call a timeout as they trailed 16-11. After the break, both teams traded points until the score stood at 17-12. A pair of kills from Yurkovich and Hutchinson cut the Blue Hose's deficit to just three at 17-14, but Queens answered back with two more kills to extend their lead to 19-14.
 
Queens recorded a block before Baranski's kill brought the score to 20-15. Rowe and Smith teamed up to block a Queens attack, and Rowe followed with another kill, bringing PC to 17 points. However, Queens immediately responded with a kill, but Baranski and Williams added kills of their own, making it 21-19.
 
An extended rally ended in Queens' favor, but Williams delivered a powerful kill to keep the set within reach at 22-20. A PC attack error gave Queens their 23rd point, but a subsequent Royals attack error allowed PC to stay in the fight. In the end, a pair of kills from Queens sealed the set, with the Royals taking it 25-21.
 
THIRD SET
The Blue Hose capitalized on a Royals attack error to score the first point of the third set. Queens responded with a kill, but Miller immediately answered with one of her own. After the opponents notched two points, a service error brought the score level at 3-3. Williams then delivered a sharp kill inside the 10-foot line, giving PC a 4-3 lead. However, Queens grabbed the next two points to take a 5-4 advantage.
 
Daphnis, back in the rotation, slammed down a kill to even things up at 5-5. The Royals reclaimed a 6-5 lead with a kill, but the Blue Hose mounted a run, scoring three consecutive points before conceding one to Queens, holding onto an 8-7 lead. After trading points, including a Yurkovich kill, the score stood at 9-8 in PC's favor.
 
Presbyterian then rattled off three straight points, with another Yurkovich kill pushing the lead to 12-8. Queens managed a kill to bring their total to nine points, but PC surged ahead, claiming five of the next six points. The stretch was fueled by a pair of kills from Miller, one from Aliza Hart, and a service ace from Baranski, giving the Blue Hose a commanding 17-10 lead.
 
Following a Queens timeout, the Royals came out with a kill, but Daphnis quickly answered with a strike of her own. In a long rally, Yurkovich repeatedly hammered shots from the left side, eventually securing the point with a decisive kill, stretching the lead to 19-11. A Royals attack error brought PC to 20 points, prompting another Queens timeout.
 
After the break, Yurkovich added to her tally with another kill, but Queens responded with a fierce run, scoring six unanswered points to cut PC's lead to 21-17. Williams halted their momentum with back-to-back kills, pushing Presbyterian to 23 points.
 
Queens managed two more points, but an attack error gave the Blue Hose match point. Yurkovich and Hutchinson sealed the deal with an assisted block, closing out the set 25-19 in favor of Presbyterian.
 
FOURTH SET
After an early exchange of points, Queens took a 2-1 lead with a kill, but Baranski responded swiftly with a kill to tie the score at two. Kills from Miller and Williams, followed by a well-placed service ace from Baranski, propelled the Blue Hose to a 5-2 lead. Queens called a timeout, but Presbyterian came out strong, with Daphnis and Miller delivering two perfectly-timed assisted blocks to extend the lead. A Royals kill ended PC's six-point streak, but the Blue Hose still held a comfortable 7-3 advantage.
 
Queens grabbed the next two points, but Williams powered down another kill to push the score to 8-5. The Royals then went on a three-point rally to tie the set at 8-8. Yurkovich and Daphnis combined for a key block to break the run, and Williams followed up with a precisely placed kill along the right line, restoring a 10-9 lead. A service ace from the Royals briefly leveled the score at 10-10, but Presbyterian answered in a big way.
 
The Blue Hose fired off six consecutive points, sparked by two Yurkovich kills and one from Hutchinson, opening up a 16-10 lead. Following another Queens timeout, the Royals managed two points before Hutchinson knocked down another kill, making it 17-12. The opponents found some momentum with two more kills, closing the gap to 17-14.
 
A service error from Queens gifted PC their 18th point, but the Royals responded with two kills, bringing them within two at 18-16. Several attack errors from Queens allowed Presbyterian to reach the 20-point mark, giving the Blue Hose a 21-16 advantage. Undeterred, the Royals rallied with three straight kills to trim the deficit to just two points at 21-19.
 
After a Presbyterian timeout, Queens added another kill to make it 21-20. Williams then silenced their run with a powerful kill to the back-left corner, though a service error from PC kept the difference at just one point, 22-21. Queens capitalized, picking up a block and a kill to take a narrow 23-22 lead.
 
A Royals attack error tied things up again at 23-23. With the set on the line, Williams and Hutchinson rose together for a pivotal block, giving Presbyterian set point. Yurkovich delivered the final blow, nailing her attack to the floor and sealing the set 25-23 for the Blue Hose, forcing a decisive fifth set.
 
FIFTH SET
An attack error from Queens gave Presbyterian the first point of the decisive fifth set, and Hutchinson followed up with a powerful kill, quickly putting the Blue Hose ahead 2-0. Queens responded by taking the next three points, but Hutchinson's timely attack tied the score at 3-3. The teams traded points, keeping the deadlock at 4-4.
 
Queens then surged ahead with back-to-back kills and a PC attack error, building a 7-4 lead. After a Presbyterian timeout, the Royals added another kill, winning the race to eight and prompting the teams to switch sides. Queens extended their advantage with two more points, but Daphnis broke their momentum with a solo block, followed by a Yurkovich kill to bring the score to 10-7.
 
Both teams continued exchanging points, with the score reaching 11-8. Hutchinson then cut the Royals' lead to two points with another kill, but Queens responded with a pair of kills to make it 13-9. Hutchinson again came through for PC, tallying her third kill of the set to bring the Blue Hose to 10 points.
 
Queens moved to match point with another kill, but Miller kept Presbyterian alive with a clutch attack, narrowing the gap to 14-11. However, a service error from Presbyterian ultimately handed Queens the set and the match, with a final score of 15-11.

NOTABLES
- Williams tallied 15 kills at a .255 hitting percentage, with three blocks.
- Hutchinson recorded 12 kills at an impressive .455 hitting percentage, with three blocks.
- Yurkovich added 12 kills and three blocks.
 
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose will wrap up competition in the Wofford Invitational with a game against the Wofford Terriers tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.