MIsenheimer, N.C. (Nov. 4, 2023) --Pfeiffer University sophomore Madison Tate collected 12 kills with a .647 hitting percentage, but the Pfeiffer volleyball team fell 3-2 (25-22, 15-25, 26-28, 25-13, 13-15) to the North Carolina Wesleyan Battling Bishops Saturday at home at Merner Gym in the USA South regular season finale.
With the loss, Pfeiffer concludes the 2023 season with a 9-18 overall record and 4-14 in USA South action.
The Falcons were led by a double-double from Morgan Shrader, who registered 14 kills and 13 digs on the day. Tate also added 12 kills to help the offense. On the defensive end, Gabby Edwards chipped in for with 11 digs to go with five blocks from Tate.
Game Notes
» Pfeiffer had four players in double figures in kills.
» Madison Tate was efficient in attacking situations in the match, accumulating 12 kills while hitting .647.
» Karmen Rion had a team-high three aces in the loss.
» Morgan Shrader registered a double-double with 14 kills and 13 digs
» Pfeiffer never trailed on the way to winning the fourth set 25-13.
» Morgan Shrader had a match-high 14 kills for Pfeiffer.
» Pfeiffer got a match-high 13 digs from Morgan Shrader.
» Pfeiffer attackers were helped by a match-high 24 assists from Kylee Mayberry.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Falcons opened up an early one set to none lead, winning the first set 25-22. Pfeiffer never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 14-13 in a set that had just one lead change before the Falcons took over in the second half of the stanza.
SET 2 | Pfeiffer then dropped set two 25-15, evening the match at a set apiece. The Falcons fell behind on the first point and never took the lead before dropping the set.
SET 3 | Pfeiffer then dropped their second set in a row, falling behind in the match two sets to one. The Falcons dropped a tight set, losing 28-26 in a stanza that was tied eight times and had two lead changes.
SET 4 | Pfeiffer broke their two set losing streak and forced a fifth set with a 25-13 victory in set number four. The Falcons scored first and never trailed in the set to secure the victory. Pfeiffer opened up as much as a 13 point lead at 19-6 before closing out the stanza. Pfeiffer also supplemented their offense with four aces in the set.
SET 5 | After dropping sets two and three, Pfeiffer won set four, tying things up at 2-2 to force a fifth set, but couldn't complete the comeback, losing the set 15-13 and the match 3-2. The Falcons couldn't persevere past a ferocious North Carolina Wesleyan rally in the fifth set, losing after leading by five points at 8-3 earlier in the set.
