Box Score

Roanoke, VA - After facing the top three teams in the ODAC in consecutive matches, Hollins played host to Guilford College on Tuesday night.  Hollins fell to the Quakers in an early season, non-conference, matchup at the Roanoke College Tournament in early September.  Hollins fell to Guilford 1-3 and looked to avenge that loss by handing the Quakers their fifth conference loss and moving past their rivals in the ODAC standings.

The match started with both teams trading points in the early going. The match was tied several times but with the score, 8-8, the visitors were able to take their first real advantage of the night.  Guilford outscored Hollins seven to two to push their lead to five.  Hollins stopped the Quaker run but could not wrestle away the momentum and had to call a timeout at 18-11.  Guilford refused to release control of the match and won the first set 25-15.  The second set saw the visitors from Greensboro race out to an early lead.  Hollins battled back and forced a Guilford timeout midway through the set.  The Quakers righted themselves after the short break and regained control.  Hollins pulled to within three points but could get no closer as they fell behind two sets to none.  After a 10 minute break between sets, Hollins came back looking to chip away at the Guilford advantage but the Quakers were able to hold off their hosts by taking an early lead.  Hollins still had a run left in them and pulled to within two points, 11-13.  However the visitors momentum proved too much as Hollins fell 25-16.

Hollins struggled to keep up with Guilford at the net as the Quakers enjoyed a 44-24 kill advantage.  Jordan Persinger (New Castle, VA) and Lauren Hays (Saginaw, TX) led the home team with six kills apiece.  Persinger and Hays also had a part in all of Hollins five blocks.  Rikki Martinez (Corpus Christi, TX) had five kills and five digs while Jessie Deese (Cary, NC) added three kills, four assists, and five digs.    First year setter Samantha Billups (Zuni, VA) handed out 12 assists as Hollins primary setter.  Libero Haley Ortiz (Portsmouth, VA) once again led the team with 12 digs.

Taylor Creed came off the bench to lead the Quakers with 12 kills while Becca Benfield added nine and Kelsey Ruehling eight.  Maile Munro assisted on 35 of the Guilford 44 kills and Brooke Herr patrolled the back line coming up with a team high 16 digs.

Hollins will step out of conference to host Salem College tomorrow night.  The game is a rematch of an earlier Hollins victory and will be senior night as Hays and Deese will play their final home match in a Hollins uniform.  The scheduled start time is 7:00pm and before the game the seniors will be honored for their four years at Hollins.