Box Score

Roanoke, VA - The Hollins University volleyball team will look to defend their home court for the first time this season.  The team kicked off the season by competing in a pair of tournaments, first at Averett University, then again last weekend at the Greensboro College Tournament.  Tonight marks the first individual match of the season and Hollins will be looking to start their home campaign with a victory over a Ferrum team coming into the match having yet to taste victory this season.

Hollins jumped on their visitors quickly and raced out to a 13-1 lead in the opening frame.  Hollins cruised from there, taking the set 25-8.  Just when appeared it was going to be any easy night for the home team, Ferrum rallied to tie the second set at 20-20.  The Panthers then seized the momentum and finished off Hollins in a tightly contested, 26-24, set.  Ferrum kept putting the pressure on Hollins and took control of the third set 18-12.  Hollins battled back but it wasn't enough as the Panthers gained a 2-1 advantage.  In the fourth set, Hollins pushed out to a 15-10 lead but quickly saw it completely disappear as Ferrum tied it up at 15-15.  Hollins once again pulled away and carried the lead throughout the remainder of the set and tied the match at 2-2.  The fifth and final set looked to be all wrapped up by the Panthers as they enjoyed a 13-11 cushion late in the match.  However a big block at the net capped off a Hollins run to tie the score.  It was Hollins that was able to come up with the next point and with a chance to win the match, junior Rikki Martinez (Corpus Christi, TX) recorded the biggest of her 13 kills on the night to seal the win for Hollins.

Seniors Jessie Deese (Cary, NC) and Lauren Hays (Saginaw, TX) joined Martinez with double digit kills by recording 12 and 11 respectively.  Emily Lowther (Woodbridge, VA) enjoyed her best match of the season as the junior killed nine of her 29 attacks while handing out a pair of assists and picking up 11 digs on the back line.  Libero Haley Ortiz (Portsmouth, VA) picked up a match high 42 digs and setter Lela Moore (Woodleaf, NC) assisted on 41 of Hollins 59 kills.

Jordan Link and Jordan Joyce led the Ferrum attack with 10 kills each.  Emily Danner handed out 36 assists and Sarah Hendrix led the team with 37 digs.

Hollins will step back into tournament play when they make the short trip on Interstate 81 to compete in the Roanoke College Tournament on Friday night.  Mary Baldwin will be their opponent at 4:00pm before facing off with Methodist in the 8:00 night cap.