ATLANTA, Ga. -- The Covenant volleyball team won the first set, but host Oglethorpe took the final three games to rally past the Scots in four sets, 3-1 (22-25, 25-17, 25-14, 25-18), on Wednesday night inside Dorough Field House.
It was the second time the two teams have squared off in less than two weeks. Covenant defeated Oglethorpe at home on Sept. 14 in four sets.
Riley Howe led Covenant (1-10) with nine kills to go along with 11 digs, while Allie Jakes recorded six kills in the loss. Leah Buys just missed a double-double as she totaled 28 assists and nine digs with a pair of kills. Emily Moore led the back row with 17 digs and Savannah Savage added 11 digs.
Covenant looked good in the first set as the Scots took a 1-0 match lead with a 25-22 victory. The Scots had a match-best 12 kills in the frame and rallied midway through the frame to grab the lead. Down 11-8, the Scots battled back to knot the score at 16-16 before regaining the lead at 17-16 after an Oglethorpe error. A kill from Lindsey Stephens capped a quick, 4-0, run to give the Scots a 19-16 lead.
Oglethorpe evened the score at 22 apiece, but Covenant had the final answer in the set as the Scots scored the final three points, including a Meriel Chupp kill to end the set.
However, Covenant would never lead again the rest of the night. Oglethorpe pulled away in the second set for a 25-17 win to tie the match at 1-1. The host Stormy Petrels then opened up big leads early in the third and fourth sets and would stave off Covenant rallies in each to secure the victory.
TaKorya Green led Oglethorpe (5-7) with 13 kills and Emilee Etter added 11 kills. Malisa Reichard had 21 assists, while Alex Prots produced a match-high 28 digs.
UP NEXT
Covenant will return to Barnes PE Center on Saturday to open USA South play. The Scots open the Homecoming Saturday with a match vs. Berea at 10 a.m., before facing Maryville at 4 p.m.
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