SHREVEPORT, La. – The Ladies used 26 aces on the day en route to taking all six sets from the Owls as Centenary (11-11) swept Mississippi University for Women (2-18) in a pair of matches Saturday afternoon, October 6. The Ladies won match one 25-9, 25-12, 25-8 and took the second match 25-10, 25-11, 25-10.
Senior Amanda Farr hit seven aces in the first match while classmate Shyann Pisano added a trio of aces in each match. The Ladies hit .400 or better in 3-of-6 sets for the day, never hitting below .176 (second set of match one).
Centenary led 6-4 before a 16-1 run blew open the first set of the day. Senior Shannon Orlopp recorded the kill to bring Pisano to serve. Two aces, two freshman Lauren Kelley kills, a kill from junior Kristian Loving, and a pair of Owls' attack errors pushed the lead to 10. After both team sided out, Farr stepped to the service line. Three aces, three hitting errors by the visitors and an assisted block from senior Michaela Brantley and freshman Annalee Mathews put Centenary up 16.
The Ladies recorded a .421 hitting percentage (10 kills and two errors on 19 swings) in the first set alone.
Centenary led 11-10 in the second set of match one before another Farr service run. A senior Makenzie Shaw kill put Centenary on serve before three Farr aces and two Mississippi University for Women hitting errors. The Ladies went on to win the set by 13.
The Ladies scored the 10-of-11 to begin set three en route to ending match one. After a kill by freshman Erica Hoops, two errors, a Lawson ace, and a kill from freshman Alyssa Davis gave Centenary quick five points. After each team sided out, a Farr ace and three Owl's errors put the Ladies up 10-1.
Centenary finished match one in a fitting way with a Lawson ace.
Kelley led Centenary by hitting .429 for the match (10 kills and one error on 21 swings). Sophomore Brittany Risner added 14 assists.
The Owls trailed set two 7-4 before three straight points produced the only tie of match one. After a Centenary service error, an ace by Mary Grace Prine and a Ladies hitting error knotted the set at seven.
Haley McMurphey led Mississippi University for Women with two kills and aces.
Centenary came out strong in match two with an 8-1 run. An error by the visitors, a Lawson ace, and a Hoops kill gave Centenary the first three points. After both teams sided out, a pair of Hoops kills around a successful attack by Pisano put the Ladies up six. An attack error ended the run. Centenary went on to win set one by 15.
After taking set two by 14, the Ladies scored the first four points of the final set. After an Owls' service error, a kill from Rachel Demerjian, an attack error by Mississippi University for Women, and an ace from sophomore Ami Powers quickly put Centenary up 4-0. The visitors pulled within 14-9, but 10 straight put Centenary on match point. During the run, Orlopp added a trio of kills and a Hoops added a pair of aces.
Sadie Mitchell kept the match going with a kill for the Owls, but a Davis' kill ended the match.
Davis hit .500 for the match with eight kills and one error on 14 swings. Demerjian added 19 assists and seven digs. Orlopp contributed five kills and one error on six swings (.667). In match two, Centenary hit a season high .372 (38 kills and nine errors on 78 attempts).
McMurphey led Mississippi University for Women with five kills.
Centenary returns to action next Friday, October 12, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, against Dallas. First serve is set for 6 p.m.