August 31, 2005

LAURINBURG, NC—The St. Andrews volleyball team rallied off four-straight points on sophomore Allison Hendrix (Hickory, NC) serves to win a five-game Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference volleyball match with Queens University of Charlotte Wednesday in Harris Court. The Knights won 3-2 with game scores of 30-22, 24-30, 30-23, 22-30, 15-12.

First Year Head Coach Dan Kreiger picked up his first win at the helm of St. Andrews, as the Knights improved to 1-4 overall and 1-0 in the CVAC. The Royals start the season 0-1 overall and in the conference.

“It was great to get the first win of the year and especially at home with such a great crowd tonight,” said Kreiger.

St. Andrews jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first game and never trailed in that frame. Game-two saw the Knights jump out again with a 12-4 lead, but a well timed Queens’ timeout allowed the Royals to come all the way back and tie the match up at one apiece.

The Knights once again took the lead in the match in a close third game. With the score deadlocked at 21-21, St. Andrews ripped off nine of the next 11 points including six straight on junior Jesi Bewley’s (Cincinatti, OH) serve to take the advantage going into the fourth. The Royals would not go down quietly and tied everything with impressive play in the fourth.

Queens carried the momentum into the deciding game by holding a late 12-10 lead but the Knights were able to get a side out and set up the four consecutive points off Hendrix serves.

Bewley lead St. Andrews with a .358 hitting percentage including 24 kills, six digs, four assists, and four service aces. Junior Lauren McManus (Raleigh, NC) provided 14 kills and six digs while junior setter Kim Harper (Boca Raton, FL) supplied 36 assists, 11 digs, and seven kills. Sophomore Erin Haugen (Ft. Mills, SC) and Hendrix had 15 and 12 digs, respectively. Freshman Dani Ghramm (Hayden, ID) had 10 digs and nine kills.

Senior Chrissy White led the Royals with 18 digs, 16 kills and four aces. Freshman Keatin McKenzie had a game-high 10 blocks along with nine kills. Setter Katherine Gladstone provided 43 assists and sophomore Vicki Gonzalez chipped in with 16 digs.

“The ladies energy and heart was unbelievable,” added Kreiger. “They recognize the energy level needed to win and used it tonight. We have a couple of things to work on but we look forward to using this positive momentum going into next game with, hopefully, another large crowd.”

The Knights look to remain perfect in the CVAC as they host Limestone on Friday at 6:00 p.m.