Box Score Rock Hill, S.C - After battling through ten sets on Friday, the Eagles kept their momentum to sweep North Carolina A&T in straight sets (25-19, 25-16, 25-15) and finish the weekend 3-0. On Friday, the Eagles topped Morehead State and Davidson, each in five set matches.
How It Happened
Nikkia Benitez and
Morgan Bossler combined for eight kills and no errors with perfect hitting percentages in the first set. Both newcomers kept up their hitting efficiency through the end of the match; Benitez finished with a team high eight kills and just one error for a .368 hitting efficiency, and Bossler finished with zero errors and a .357. The Eagles battled some unforced errors which allowed the Aggies to stay in reach, but they never let up enough to allow an Aggie lead.
As the match progressed, so did the Eagle's offensive and defensive efficiency. Benitez had a team high digs with 13, libero
Hannah Lackey, was right behind her with 11.
Siani Yamaguchi finished the weekend with her third double-double, 14 assists, ten digs, and four kills. Bossler gave the Aggie attackers a tough time, finishing with four blocks on the night. The Eagles held NC A&T to just a .066 hittin percentage. Appalachian State transfer,
Jana Owens, stepped up for the Eagles with 13 assists, ten digs, three aces, and some key defensive plays. Owens also chipped in two kills off three attempts with zero errors.
2019 Cristi Curtis All-Tournament Team
MVP
Morgan Bossler - Winthrop
Kia Benitez - Winthrop
Hannah Lackey - Winthrop
Lauren Rokey - Morehead State
Mia Swearingen- Morehead State
Ellie Crosley - Davidson
Edie Brewer - North Carolina A&T
Next Up
The Eagles begin a two week road stretch with tournaments at American University and Georgia Southern, respectively. First up, the Eagles will travel to Washington D.C . to play the host team, American University, on Friday, September 6th at 12:30 p.m.. Then they will play Temple that same afternoon at 4:30 p.m. The Eagles will finish the weekend with an 11:30 a.m. match against Ohio University on Saturday.
