Volleyball Springs Program's First-Ever Win Against Milligan in Five-Set Thriller

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn.- The volleyball team did something the program has never done before on Saturday. The team defeated the Milligan University Lady Buffaloes for the first time ever, winning a thrilling five-set match 3-2. 

Two service aces by Alley Hibdon and an error by Milligan helped the Lady Bulldogs take an early 3-0 lead in the first set. TWU kept moving the score in their favor with kills by Ella Brannan, Savannah Jones, Nyah Hudson, and Hibdon helping the team lead 9-4.  The lead did not stay with the Lady Bulldogs, though, as Milligan took a lead deep into the set and went on to win the set 25-20.

After a 3-0 start to the second set for Tennessee Wesleyan, Milligan scored five straight points to take over the lead. The opponents held on to the lead, looking like they were going to cruise to a 2-0 lead as they led 20-14. The Lady Bulldogs scored 11 of the next 13 points, including eight straight at one point, to take the set from the Lady Buffaloes, with Amya Sutton's kill giving the team a 25-22 win.

TWU came from behind to win the third set. After leading 4-1 early, a back-and-forth set saw the Lady Bulldogs trail 18-14 as the final points approached. Tennessee Wesleyan rallied back, though, tying the match 22-22 on Bailey Dalton and Sutton kills. An error by the opponents broke the tie, and kills by Hibdon and Sutton gave the team a 25-23 win and a 2-1 lead.

The team was not able to keep the momentum on their side, falling in the fourth set. TWU had a 15-13 lead after a Jones kill, but was outscored 12-4 as Milligan won the set 25-19 to force a fifth and final set. 

In the deciding set, kills by Jones, Hunter Ford, Hudson, and Hibdon helped the team lead 8-5. After Milligan tied the set 11-11, kills by Brannan and Hudson helped the team score four straight points, with the winning point coming on a Kianna Wickham service ace to give the Lady Bulldogs the 15-11 fifth-set win and 3-2 match win.

Brannan had a career-high 14 kills to go along with 14 kills by Hibdon. Hibdon also led the offense with 36 assists. 

Up next for Tennessee Wesleyan (11-5, 3-1 AAC) is a road match against Union Commonwealth University on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.