MONTGOMERY, Ala. – In the Gulf South Conference opening match of the season for both the University of Montevallo and Auburn Montgomery the visiting Falcons would outlast the Warhawks for a thrilling 3-2 five-set victory on Tuesday evening at the AUM Gymnasium.
 
NOTES
- The Warhawks fall to 6-4 on the season with a 0-1 mark in the GSC.
- Montevallo improves to 7-6 and 1-0 in league play.
- The Falcons won the match 25-17, 19-25, 25-19, 22-25, 15-6.
- AUM is now 0-4 lifetime against the Falcons.
- The setback was the first home loss of the season for the Orange & Black.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Senior outside hitter Sommer Rhea recorded a double-double, notching a match-high 17 kills to go along with 13 digs. Rhea also posted a service ace and an assist.
- Freshman outside hitter Giada Pais-Marden tallied a career-high 13 kills to go along with 10 digs. She also had an ace, an assist and a solo block.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Warhawks traded points with the Falcons until going up 10-8 on a service error in the first set. UM responded with an 8-1 run that was finally broken on an Ariadne Borges kill from the middle that cut the lead to 16-12. A 7-3 run by the Falcons gave them a 23-15 advantage, with both teams scoring two points apiece the rest of the way.
- AUM jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the second set before UM was able to get its offense on track. While holding a 12-9 advantage the Warhawks ripped off five straight points to go up 17-9, capped off by a block from Maria Nicolau and Jaylyn Felder. The teams traded side outs until UM pulled to within 22-19, but the Orange & Black would rally for three straight points to take the set on a kill by Rhea.
- It would be the Falcons who would jump out to the early advantage in the third set, going up 6-2 before a kill by Pais-Marden broke the serve. AUM would inch back into the contest and would tie the frame at 10-10. The Falcons would outscore the home team 10-6 over the next 16 points before a kill by Nicolau would cut the UM advantage to 20-17. Montevallo would close out the frame on a 5-2 run to go up 2-1 in the match.
- The fourth set saw the teams battle to a 7-7 tie before a 3-0 run by the Warhawks would give them a 10-7 lead. UM responded with a run of their own and tied the match at 11-11. Once again the teams traded points until Nyah Whittlesey tied the match at 18-18 with a service ace. A quick 3-0 run by UM gave the visitors a 21-18 lead but the home squad answered with a 4-0 run to go up 22-21. The Falcons tied the match at 22-22 but a 3-0 run by the Warhawks tied the match at 2-2, with Isadora Nicolai providing the ace to win the set.
- Montevallo would come out firing on all cylinders in the fifth set, going up 10-2 before AUM was forced to take a timeout. The Warhawks could not get their offense back on track in the frame and the Falcons would outscore them the rest of the way 5-4 to take the set 15-6 and the match 3-2.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- The Falcons notched 65 kills to 52 for AUM.
- Montevallo hit for a .239 mark while the Warhawks hit .165.
- AUM recorded six aces to only four for UM.
 
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