Volleyball Douses Flames, Splits Saturday, and Names Two to All-Tourney Team

Saturday, September 10

Davidson, N.C.

12:00 p.m.

Davidson College Athletics

3-6

USC-Upstate

4-6

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
USC Upstate	25	25	25	25	3
Davidson	27	21	21	23	1

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

Volleyball Douses Flames, Splits Saturday, and Names Two to All-Tourney Team

9/10/2016 10:24:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Davidsonphotos.com
Davidson-Upstate Box Score (PDF) | Davidson-Liberty Box Score (PDF)
Davidson-Upstate Match Highlights

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Led by a dynamic offensive effort from sophomore Mason Rooney and stout defensive play from senior Emily Franklin, Davidson volleyball (4-6) split its contests Saturday to conclude the Wildcat Classic in Belk Arena. The 'Cats dropped a 3-1 match to USC Upstate (27-25, 21-25, 21-25, 25-23) before downing Liberty by the same match score (25-21, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20).

Rooney recorded 24 kills on the day, adding 36 assists and seven total blocks. Franklin was a force at the net, collecting 10 blocks while also picking up 16 kills and three service aces. Other key contributors included sophomore Ciera Cockrell (20 kills, four blocks), junior Kelly Friers (18 kills, four blocks), senior Mikayla Derochie (61 assists, six blocks), and sophomore Sabrina Shepherd (eight blocks).

Both Franklin and Rooney were named to the All-Tournament Team for their performances. Derochie turned in back-to-back double-doubles, bringing her season total to six (including five of her last six matches).

"We were challenged in every area of the game this weekend, and we learned how to play under adversity and against different styles of teams," head coach Chris Willis said. "Everyone wants to go 3-0, and while we didn't accomplish that feat, we got much better as a team. We're very happy with the way we played and as a team altogether."

MATCH ONE: USC UPSTATE 3, DAVIDSON 1
Rooney paced the Wildcats, recording a triple-double with 13 kills, 15 assists, and 10 digs. The squad had three other members post double-digit digs in Derochie, sophomore Sam Thompson, and freshman libero Elise Edman.

After leading by as many as six points, the Wildcats had to battle, with the Spartans taking the lead as late as 24-22. Following an Upstate timeout, the 'Cats picked up five of the next six points, courtesy of kills from Friers, Shepherd, and Derochie to take the opening frame 27-25.

In Set 2, a Davidson four-point lead was squandered by the Spartans, taking 11 of the next 14 points to go up 20-15 and secure the set 25-21.The third frame began right away as a battle, as the teams tied six times before reaching the 10 point mark. Davidson took a 21-17 lead before Upstate replied with eight straight points to take it 25-21.

With the match on the line, the 'Cats came out firing, going up 9-4. The Spartans chipped away, remaining within two until the 18-18 mark. Capitalizing on Davidson errors and their front line- who recorded four kills in the next seven points- allowed Upstate to take the set 25-23 and the match 3-1.

The Spartans had four members with double-digit kills and four with double-digit digs, led by senior Emily Koelling's 18 and .400 hitting percentage and junior libero Kaleigh Kelley's 28 digs.

MATCH TWO: DAVIDSON 3, LIBERTY 1
Rooney and Cockrell each had 11 kills to top the 'Cats offense, and the team was back to its defensive diligence, pulling in 12 total blocks and Derochie and Edman each posted 11 digs.

Leading 20-14 in the opening stanza, the Flames ignited for a 5-0 rally to threaten within one. Davidson took advantage of three Liberty miscues and a kill from Cockrell and Friers each to seal the set 25-21. The second set went in favor of the Flames, who took a three-point lead early and maintained control through the course of the game. Despite grabbing four straight points and put the 'Cats in the lead at 18-16, Liberty caught back up, took the lead once more and stole the set 22-25.

Following the intermission, Friers and friends came out with force to pace the Wildcats. The squad put up eight straight to begin the frame, and Friers slammed two early kills to help set the tone for the duration of the set. Her fellow front line companions (Cockrell, Rooney, Franklin) finished where she started, combining for five of Davidson's last eleven points and take the set 25-21.

Davidson was determined in the fourth frame, gaining the advantage at 9-8 and never relinquishing the lead, taking the set 25-20 and the match 3-1.

Liberty was led by sophomore Hannah Morris with 11 kills.

UP NEXT
The Wildcats travel to Columbia, S.C., for the Gamecock Invitational, hosted by South Carolina on Sept. 16-17. The team will also face Gardner-Webb and William & Mary.