WINTER PARK, Fla. - Auburn University at Montgomery volleyball opened the 2023 Rollins College Invitational with a split against Florida Tech and Bluefield State University on Friday afternoon inside Warden Arena. 

The Warhawks were defeated in the first matchup 3-0 against the Panthers and bounced back to take down Bluefield State 3-0. 

THE WARMUP (Match 1)
Score: FIT 3, AUM 0 
Records: Florida Tech 4-2 | AUM 4-2
Series: Florida Tech leads 2-0
Location: Winter Park, Fla. | Warden Arena
Get Social: Twitter & Instagram - @AUMWarhawksVB

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Warhawks and Panthers battled out the first set with neither team taking complete control of the set. Florida Tech owned a 20-17 lead and AUM took a timeout to get back into the set, but the Panthers finished it out with a 25-21 victory. 
• AUM tallied 15 kills in the second set, however the Panthers took a 22-18 lead. The Warhawks forced the set to go to the 28th point and Florida Tech earned the second set victory and took a 2-0 lead in the match. 
• The third set was back-and-forth and Florida Tech took advantage of a 7-0 run and won the match 3-0 after the 25-19 victory in the third set. 

STATS OF THE MATCH

• Savannah Sebek dished out 18 assists, while Amber Bretwisch tallied 13. 
• Giulia Santuari posted 9 kills, Alessia Cappai and Ruth Sconocchini had 8. 
• Cappai had 17 digs and Kaleigh Fitzgerald chipped in with 13 digs. 

THE WARMUP (Match 2)
Score: Bluefield State 0, AUM 3
Records: BSU 2-4 | AUM 5-2
Series: AUM leads 1-0
Location: Winter Park, Fla. | Warden Arena
Get Social: Twitter & Instagram - @AUMWarhawksVB

HIGHLIGHTS

• AUM tallied 15 kills in the first set, while Bluefield State posted nine. The Warhawks handled the Big Blue 25-18 and took an early 1-0 lead in the match. 
• In the second set, AUM opened on a 4-0 run began by a kill from Santuari. The set closed the same way it started, with a kill from Santuari to give AUM a 25-13 second set victory. 
• The third set was completely dominated by the Warhawks as Bluefield State never owned a lead. AUM jumped out of the gate with a 10-3 lead and continued the run and resulted in a 25-11 victory and took the match. 

STATS OF THE MATCH

• Keren Santana posted six service aces in the match, nine kills, and 15.5 points. Santana's nine kills were the most she has had since the 2021 season. 
• Bretwisch and Sebek combined for 35 assists. 
• Santuari tallied nine kills and Sconocchini posted eight kills.
• Fitzgerald led the way in digs with 16. 

UP NEXT

The Warhawks return to Warden Arena on Saturday, September 9 to play Chadron State at 2:30 p.m. and Rollins College at 6:30 p.m. 
   
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