Wisconsin Box Score
Seton Hall Box Score

WILLIAMSBURG, VA – The Winthrop volleyball team split its two opening matches today at the Tribe Invitational, losing the opener to the Wisconsin Badgers 3-0 (25-14, 25-22, 25-14) and defeating the Seton Hall Pirates in a five-set thriller 3-2 (25-19, 25-17, 26-28, 26-28, 15-11).

Leading the way in the victory over Seton Hall was senior Kaley Viola with her first double-double of the year and senior Kelsey Harrison who smashed her career-high of digs with a match-best 21. Becca Toor added 18 kills, and seniors Kellie Sellers and Sara Felts recorded 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Senior setter Kelsey Hall posted 47 assists to continue her chase for second place on the all-time Winthrop assist list. The Eagles compiled 72 kills, 82 digs and a .242 hitting percentage.

“It helps a lot that we have such a balanced offense,” said head coach Sally Polhamus. “Our passing really bounced back from the first match against Wisconsin.”

In the first set, Winthrop stormed out to an 8-3 lead which included consecutive kills from Toor and Hall, and an ace from sophomore Kristin Cruse.

“Becca proved tonight that she is becoming a great player,” Polhamus added.

At 13-9, the Eagles dominated the net with three consecutive kills from Viola, Felts and redshirt-sophomore Brittany Blackman. Winthrop never gave up its lead and won the set 25-19. The Eagles had an outstanding hitting percentage after the first set of .438.

In the second set Winthrop fell behind early 6-2, but rallied with five straight points that included kills from Sellers and Hall. Seton Hall climbed back to take an 8-7 lead, but Winthrop responded with a 6-0 run to make the score 12-8. The Eagles then cruised to a convincing 25-17 win in set two.

The Pirates answered in the third set downing the Eagles 28-26. After back and forth scoring, the score even at 20-20. Both teams traded points until Seton Hall had game point at 24-22. Winthrop ended up fending off two set points to bring the score to 24-24. A kill from Blackman put the Eagles ahead 25-24, but an attacking error by Viola prevented the Eagles from taking set three. A kill from Toor then gave Winthrop another set point, but the Pirates fought back with back-to-back kills from Sarah Osmun and Krissy Worbel. Seton Hall took the set with an attacking error by Sellers.

The Eagles came out quick in the fourth set to take a 3-0 lead, but the Pirates clawed their way back to tie the game at 6-6. Winthrop never saw a lead for the rest of the set, but tied the game up at 26-26. Seton Hall even the match at 2 sets apiece with back to back kills for a 28-26 win.

In the deciding fifth set, Winthrop jumped out to a 5-1 lead, highlighted by kills from Viola and Felts. After a Seton Hall timeout, the Pirates got a point back, but Winthrop retaliated with consecuative kills from Hall and Toor. At that point, Winthrop never looked back and defeated the Pirates, 15-11. 

“We decided to give the MVP award of tonight's game to Kelsey Harrison due to her serving,  passing, and defense,” Polhamus added. “We didn't even know she broke her all-time high in digs tonight.”

In the first set against the Badgers on Friday morning, the Eagles took a quick 1-0 lead, but with the score deadlocked at 6-6, Wisconsin (1-0) reeled off nine straight points to put the set out of reach. The closest Winthrop got was seven points before losing 25-14.

Winthrop fought hard in the second set and were tied at 15 all, but the Badgers then went on a 6-1 run to take a 21-16 lead. Winthrop cut the deficit to two points at 21-19, but Wisconsin held on for a 25-22 win.  The third set was all Wisconsin as the Badgers jumped out to a quick 8-4 advantage and went on to take the match with a 25-14 win in the third set..

Viola was the top contributor for the Eagles against Wisconsin with nine kills and 11 digs. Hall added 11 digs and 17 assists, while Harrison collected 11 digs and Sellers finished with 10.
Winthrop will be back in action on Saturday, Aug. 28 as it will face the host team, William & Mary, at 2:30 p.m.