UVa-Wise Spikers Runaway with Deciding Fifth Game over Milligan

September 4, 2007
Match Stats

Wise, Va. – The UVa-Wise spikers ran away with the fifth and deciding volleyball game Tuesday night to defeat Milligan College, 3-2, in both teams’ Appalachian Athletic Conference opener. In the fifth game, Natasha Viers pounded five of her match-best 31 kills on the night.

The Lady Cavs (4-4, 1-0 AAC) split the opening four games with the Lady Buffs (2-1, 0-1 AAC) by scores of 27-30, 31-29, 28-30 and 30-26 before taking the fifth contest, 15-6. In the final game, the home team broke open the game with seven-straight points to go from 5-4 to 12-4 before recording the victory.

Viers (Abingdon, Va.) led the match with 31 kills and a .404 hitting percentage. She added three solo and eight block assists in the five games. Kristen Salyer (Gate City, Va.) recorded 14 kills, 18 digs and four blocks. Whittney Lane (Norton, Va.) added nine kills and five blocks.

Freshman Sam Puryea (Bristol, TN/ Tennessee) handed out a season-best 54 assists, dug 18 balls and assisted on eight blocks. Britney Lawson (Rye Cove, Va.) dug 23 balls and Cara Hamilton (Gate City, Va.) 12.

The victory sets up another important match for UVa-Wise when it hosts defending AAC champ King College on Thursday night starting at 6:30 p.m.