ORLANDO, Fla. – The Auburn Montgomery volleyball team dropped a pair of matches on Saturday at the 2018 South Region Crossover, falling to Florida Tech (3-0) and Spring Hill College (3-1) on the final day of the event that features teams from the Gulf South and Sunshine State Conferences.  
 
NOTES
• AUM falls to 9-17 overall and 4-4 in neutral site matches.
• Florida Tech improved to 7-17 and Spring Hill improved to 25-3.
• FIT won the match 25-19, 25-19, 25-16.
• SHC won the match 21-25, 25-15, 25-18, 25-16.
• Today marked the last non-conference matches for the Orange & Black.
• AUM has now lost 10 matches in a row, it's longest losing streak in program history.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Senior middle blocker Brianna Garvin tallied 21 kills and 12 blocks (three solo) on the day.
• Freshman outside hitter Nyah Whittlesey recorded 16 kills and five blocks over two matches.
• Senior setter Carly Smart earned 53 assists, 24 digs, 12 kills and three blocks on the day.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – FLORIDA TECH
• The first set saw FIT run out to a 10-3 advantage before AUM was able to use a 9-5 run to cut the advantage to 15-12. The two teams traded serves before the Panther went on a 4-1 run to go up 20-14. The Orange & Black responded with four straight points to cut the lead to two points at 20-18, but FIT closed out the frame on a 5-1 run to take the first set 25-19.
• The two teams traded runs back and forth in the second set, with the Panthers holding an 8-7 lead through the first 15 points. A 5-1 run by FIT put the Panthers up 13-8 before AUM rallied for three straight points to cut the lead to two. Once again the team traded serves until the Panthers went on a 4-1 run to take a 21-15 lead. AUM tried to rally late in the frame, winning three straight points to fight of set point, but FIT was able get the final kill to take the frame 25-19.
• The Warhawks would take the early advantage in the third set, going up 4-1 before a 9-3 run by Panthers lifted FIT to a 10-7 advantage. AUM responded with a 5-1 run of their own to go up 13-11, capped off by a kill by Smart. Once again the Panthers would respond, rallying for seven of the next eight points to take an 18-14 lead. After a kill by Garvin gave the Warhawks the serve, FIT rallied for six straight points before AUM was able to break serve. The Panthers would finish off the Orange & Black one rally later, taking the set 25-16 and the match 3-0.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE – FLORIDA TECH
• The match featured 8 tie scores and 5 lead changes.
• AUM tallied 52 digs while FIT tallied 63.
• The Panthers recorded nine service aces to only one for the Warhawks.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – SPRING HILL
• The first set saw AUM go up 9-5 before the Badgers got a pair of quick points to cut the Warhawk advantage to 9-7. The Warhawks would be the first to get to 10 on the next play when Smart earned a kill. The two teams traded points until the Orange & Black went up 22-19 on a kill by Garvin. AUM got to set point moments later and eventually took the set on a kill by Whittlesey, winning 25-21 and going up 1-0 in the match.
• The Warhawks jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second set, eventually taking an 8-4 lead on a SHC attack error. However, the Badgers would get their offense on track, rallying for 10 straight points to go up 14-8. A kill by Smart broke the rally but SHC would continue their strong play, eventually going up 23-14. AUM would regain the serve on a kill by Jaylyn Felder, but the Badgers would get the two points they needed to win the frame 25-15 and even the set a 1-1.
• The Badgers took control early in the third set, going up 6-2 before a kill by Garvin broke the SHC rally. SHC would be the first to 15, eventually taking a 16-10 lead before AUM rallied for three straight points to cut the Badgers' lead to 16-13. However, SHC would finish the frame on a 9-5 run to take the third set 25-18.
• The two teams battled to a 6-6 tie before a 5-1 run by the Badgers gave them an 11-7 lead. AUM rallied for three points in a row to cut the SHC advantage to 11-10, but a 5-0 run gave the Badgers a 16-10 lead. The two teams traded serves but the Badgers inched further and further away from the Warhawks, eventually taking the set 25-16 and the match 3-1.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE – SPRING HILL
• SHC hit for a .226 clip while AUM had a mark of .094.
• The Warhawks had 60 digs while the Badgers had 63.
• AUM recorded 12 blocks to just seven for SHC.
 
UP NEXT
The Warhawks will return to Gulf South Conference play on Tuesday, Oct. 23, when they hit the road to take on league foe Valdosta State. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m. on the campus of the Blazers.
 
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