MONTGOMERY, Ala. – In a match that saw Auburn Montgomery and Shorter University combine for 117 kills and 141 points it would be the visiting Hawks that would pull out a victory, earning 3-2 decision over the home-standing Warhawks in Gulf South Conference volleyball action on Friday evening.
 
NOTES
• AUM falls to 9-10 on the season with a 0-8 mark in the GSC.
• Shorter improves to 7-8 and 4-4 in league play.
• SU won 21-25, 25-21, 13-25, 25-21, 15-8.
• It was the fourth five-set match for the Hawks this season and the first for AUM.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Junior outside hitter Sommer Rhea tallied a career-best 17 kills in the match, hitting for a .244 clip
• Junior outside hitter Tynesha McWilliams also recorded a career-high in kills, tallying 12 for the Warhawks.
• Senior setter Carly Smart recorded 38 assists in helping direct the Orange & Black to a .228 hitting percentage.
• Shorter's Alicia McClellan posted a match-high 23 kills, adding four blocks (three solo).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Shorter jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the first set before AUM was able to cut the lead to one at 10-9 on a kill by Brianna Garvin. The Warhawks then tallied four straight points before the Hawks broke the server of Haley Toler. The two teams traded point back and forth until the Warhawks were clinging to a 22-21 lead. The Orange & Black would be able to tally three straight points to win the set, with Rhea providing the winning point on a service ace.
• AUM would jump out to a 7-4 advantage in the second set, before SU would tie the game at 9-9 on a McClellan block. Once again the two teams would trade side outs until SU held a 22-21 advantage.
This time the Hawks would get three straight points to secure the set and tie the match at 1-1.
• The third set saw the Warhawks dominate in the early goings, racing out to a 13-4 advantage. AUM then went to 18-8 before Shorter scored three quick points. The Warhawks would respond with five consecutive points, closing out the set on a 7-2 run with Rhea finishing off the frame on a kill.
• Shorter would jump out to a 10-4 advantage in the fourth set before AUM would respond with an 8-2 run to tie the game at 12-12. After the teams traded serves the Hawks rallied for four straight points to go up 17-13. The Orange & Black would fight back, going on a 7-5 run to cut the Shorter lead to 22-20. However, the Hawks would be able to keep AUM at arm's length the rest of the way to take the set 25-21 and tie the match at 2-2.
• The Hawks would once again jump out to a 10-4 lead in the fifth set before AUM could get back on track. The Warhawks could not stymie the Shorter attack, however, eventually falling 15-8 in the final frame.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
• The match featured 17 tie scores and three lead changes.
• AUM tallied 8.0 blocks while the Hawks tallied 7.0 blocks.
• The Warhawks hit for a .228 average while Shorter hit for a .227 mark.
 
UP NEXT
The Warhawks will host GSC opponent Lee University on Saturday, Oct. 6 at the AUM Gymnasium. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m. on the campus of the Warhawks.
 
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