Orangeburg, SC—The South Carolina State women's volleyball team went 3-1, this weekend in the 2009 SC State Spikefest. The tournament, which was held Friday-Saturday, Sept. 18-19, was contested at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center on the campus of SC State.
In its first match of the tournament, SC State (5-9) defeated The Citadel, 3-2, (26-24, 25-20, 25-17, 15-9). The Lady Bulldogs had four players to record double-digit kills led by senior Brittany Davis and junior Jarne Gleaton who each put down 12. Freshmen Jade Sanford and Elizabeth Webb each recorded 10 kills while red-shirt freshman Melissa Robinson led the way defensively with 11 digs. Gleaton, who was named to the All-Tournament team, also had six digs and five block assists while Davis added five digs in the victory.
Amanda Beal and Rachael Farrell led The Citadel offensively with 11 kills while Tatum Jestila picked up 12 digs to lead the team defensively.
SC State picked up its second win of the day as they defeated Alabama State, 3-1, (21-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-18). Gleaton put down 12 kills with three digs and four block-assists to lead the Lady Bulldogs. Senior Linnie Garrett contributed nine kills and five aces while Robinson led the team defensively with eight digs.
Alabama State had three players to record double-digit kills as Sierra Caudle, Jessica Holt and Althea Russell each had 10.
The Lady Bulldogs continued their win streak as they defeated North Carolina Central, 3-2, (23-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-6), in their third match of the tournament on Saturday.
Gleaton continued her dominance has she led the way with 16 kills. Sanford and Webb contributed seven kills each and Robinson picked up 11 digs in the victory.
Belinda Behncke-Biney led all attackers with 18 kills while Raven King had 13 digs for North Carolina Central in the loss.
In its final game of the tournament, SC State fell to Charleston Southern, 3-0, (16-25, 18-25, 22-25). Gleaton recorded her fourth double-digit kill match of the tournament with 11. Robinson picked up nine digs to lead the team defensively. Sophomore Peri Ligons recorded nine kills while Ligons and Lauren Harris each picked up eight digs in the loss.
Charleston Southern was led by Amanda Hill with 15 kills.
SC State will return to action, Tuesday, September 22 when the Lady Bulldogs travel to Savannah, GA to take on Savannah State University. The Lady Bulldogs will then have a seven-day break before traveling to Conway, SC on Tuesday, Sept. 29 to take on Coastal Carolina. SC State returns home on October 3 when it hosts the Bulldog Classic, Oct. 2-3.
SC State Tournament Notes: Junior Jarne Gleaton, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, recorded double-digit kills in all four matches…for the tournament she recorded 51 kills, six aces, 17 digs and 11 block-assists for 62.5 points…Sophomore Bria Brimmer put up 150 assists over the four matches.
SC State 2009 Spikefest All-Tournament Team
Alabama State: Kelsey Hall
Citadel: Tatum Jestila
Charleston Southern Amanda Hill
Hampton: Adriana Vazquez
North Carolina Central University: Belinda Behncke-Biney
Providence: Carly Morrison
UNC-A: Raquel Miotto
Winston-Salem State: Annika Barnwell
Wofford: Stacy Byrd
Outstanding Libero: Roselande Corneille
