GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The AUM volleyball program almost overcame a slow start to Tusculum University, but it was the Pioneers that took home the five-set win Thursday night, on the opening night of the 2025 season and the Pioneer Invitational.
 
AUM (0-1) overcame a 25-16 loss in the first set and won the next two frames by identical 25-15 set scores. Totaling 46 kills to their 38, Anyaliz Rodriguez and Elise Fulgham each totaled 11 for the Warhawks.
 
Taylor Lewis added 15 digs, while Courtney Joseph blocked four opposing attacks.
 
Tusculum (1-0) responded by taking sets four and five, 25-20, 15-13, to earn the first win of the 2025 season.
  
Set 1
The Pioneers, ahead 14-13, used a 9-2 run to lead 23-15. Anyaliz Rodriguez restored order temporarily with a kill, but a Berana Pelbath kill and a Mia Wave-Nelson ace gave the home squad the 25-16 win.
 
Set 2
The Warhawks made it a 15-8 lead in the frame when GSC Newcomer Watchlist member Addi Vinson laid down an ace. AUM kept momentum, taking advantage of eight attack errors and four service errors to win the set, 25-15.
 
Set 3
AUM came out strong in the third, winning seven of the first 10 points. The Warhawks, for a second straight set, held the Pioneers to a negative attack percentage. Hitting -.167, Tusculum only had four kills to eight attack errors.
 
Meanwhile, the Warhawks boasted 12 kills in the set to win the third, 25-15, and take a 2-1 lead.
 
Set 4
Tusculum responded in the fourth with a 9-4 lead thanks to three straight aces by Taylor Sanders. AUM did make it a 21-18 score after a Salome Dejesus De La Torres ace and a Fulgham kill, but the Pioneers prevailed and forced a deciding fifth set with a 25-20 win.
 
Set 5
AUM had an 8-5 lead at the side change, but a 5-2 run by Tusculum evened the final set at 10 points apiece, thanks to an block from Jordyn Roderick and Pelbath.
 
The Pioneers won the next two points to lead 12-10, and despite the Warhawks making it a 14-13 deficit with a Kendall McCain kill, the home team won the final point on an Eliza Jewell Oliverius kill to win, 15-13.
 
Up Next
AUM will play two on Friday to conclude the Pioneer Invitational, as they take on back-to-back teams from Conference Carolinas, King and Converse. The day starts with the Tornado at 10 a.m. CDT, followed by the Valkyries at 2 p.m. CDT.
 
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