The University of Sioux Falls volleyball team opened its 2014 season in strong fashion, turning aside Catawba College on Friday by the scores of 23-25, 25-18, 25-9 and 25-18 in the Queens University Invitational at the Levine Center in Charlotte, N.C.
The Cougars followed that up with a decisive 3-1 victory against Montevallo (25-17, 25-20, 26-28, 25-18) later in the day. Match statistics are not yet available.
In the first set, Catawba (0-1) trailed 18-13 before three straight kills from sophomore Alex Hopper sparked a five-point run to tie the set. Another kill from Hopper put the Lady Indians up 20-19. The Cougars rattled off four straight with the help of Jordan Calef and two Catawba errors to regain the lead, but a kill from Ashley Brown got Catawba even at 23-all. A ball-handling error gave the Lady Indians set point and Brown killed off the set.
The Cougars (2-0) jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second frame on their way to cruising to a 25-18 win. Catawba made things interesting in set two, going on a 9-6 run to knot the frame at 10-all. However, the Cougars outscored the Lady Indians 15-8 down the stretch.
USF routed the Lady Indians 25-9 in a third set that was capped by a 9-0 Cougar run. The Cougars snagged the first six points of set four and cruised to the 25-18 win and match victory.
Senior outside hitter Emily Johnson (.516) and Calef (.478) both stacked double-digit kills, with 19 and 12 respectively, while the dynamic duo also combined for six roofs up front. Senior middle blocker Samantha Lovell finished with seven kills and a pair of block assists.
As a team, the Cougars out-hit Catawba a staggering .349-.034 and held the advantage in kills (54-28), digs (45-31) and blocks (8-5).
In her debut in Purple and Black, freshman setter Sydney Schaap was credited with 17 assists, three aces, two digs and a kill. Senior Kate Hart added five terminations and scooped four digs. Freshman Kayla Crane chipped in 16 set assists.
Alex Hopper paced the Lady Indians with 12 kills on 38 swings with nine errors (.079). Setter Kaytee Frabotta was credited with 20 assists.
The Cougars will close out play at the Queens University Invitational tomorrow with a 12:45 p.m. match against Armstrong Atlantic followed by a 7 p.m. tilt versus tournament host Queens at 7 p.m. (all times Eastern).
