Five set battle ends with Argonaut victory over Lions
West Florida’s Homme hits 10 match plateau of double-digit kill streak
FLORENCE, Ala. – The No. 17 West Florida volleyball team came out on top of its second five set match in three days with balanced offensive and defensive efforts to claim a 3-2 win (22-25, 25-20, 25-23, 24-26, 18-16) over Gulf South Conference rival North Alabama Sunday afternoon.
Lindsay Homme (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central HS) led the attack for the second time in two days with 15 kills, which moves her double-digit kill streak to 10 matches in a row. Christine Bach (Jacksonville, Fla./Florida State College at Jacksonville) and Sarah Scott (Plainfield, Ill./Texas-San Antonio) had 13 and 12 kills, respectively, and Autumun Duyn (Venice, Fla./Venice HS) had 11 kills and 29 digs for a double-double.
The Argonauts (8-6, 5-1 GSC) and Lions (2-8, 1-2 GSC) traded sprees of four-plus points in the first set before an 8-1 run gave North Alabama an early 12-4 lead. Despite the deficit, West Florida chipped away and on the strength of three straight kills by Duyn pulled within two 23-21, but was unable to catch North Alabama who took the set 25-22.
A stronger offense in the second frame allowed the Argonauts to slowly build a solid lead, and a pair of kills and service aces by Shackelford and Homme doubled their advantage 18-9. The Lions threatened to come back by holding off set point four times, but UWF regrouped after calling time out and Homme’s kill put away the second set 25-20.
A string of kills gave West Florida a huge 12-4 advantage in the third game and North Alabama spent the rest of the set fighting to equalize the score at the 23-23 mark, but kills by Bach and Duyn gave UWF the final points it needed to take the set 25-23.
The fourth set was the closest of the match with neither team taking more than a three point advantage over 12 ties and four lead exchanges. UWF’s Bach tied up the set the final time 24-24, but a ball handling error and Lion kill sent the match into a fifth set with a 26-24 North Alabama victory.
Intense back-and-forth play continued into the deciding set, and both squads went ahead three points on different occasions before a 13-13 tie. Three ties and four lead changes ensued. Bach tied up the score for a second set in a row 16-16, but this time UWF claimed the frame 18-16 and the match.
The Lions were led offensively by Cara Gregg with 21 kills and Hope Rayburn with 53 assists. Caroline Neisler collected 29 digs.
West Florida takes a day trip to Livingston, Ala., to wrap up a four match GSC road stand Thursday at 7 p.m. against West Alabama. For information on all UWF athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com.
#ARGOS#
Short Box Score (Match)
2012 West Florida Volleyball
#17 West Florida vs North Alabama (Sep 23, 2012 at Florence, Ala.)
West Florida def. North Alabama 22-25,25-20,25-23,24-26,18-16
West Florida (8-6, 5-1 GSC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Lindsay Homme
15-1-2; Christine Bach 13-0-2; Sarah Scott 12-0-4; Autumn Duyn 11-1-2;
Haley Shackelford 9-1-1; Jenny Bellairs 4-0-4; KC Dobbins 1-1-0;
Sierra Hansen 1-1-0; Totals 66-5-8.0. (Assists) - KC Dobbins 33;
Sierra Hansen 28. (Dig leaders) - Autumn Duyn 29; Colleen Starrs 14;
Haley Shackelford 11; Sierra Hansen 9
North Alabama (2-8, 1-2 GSC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Cara Gregg 21-0-3;
Priscilla Massengale 12-1-3; Taylor Chapman 10-0-1; Jessica Ronyak
6-0-10; Jessi Blackstock 5-0-1; Hope Rayburn 5-0-4; LeAnna Lloyd
4-0-6; De'licia Hutchins 1-0-1; Alex Panks 0-1-0; Caroline Neisler
0-1-0; Totals 64-3-15.0. (Assists) - Hope Rayburn 53. (Dig leaders) -
Caroline Neisler 29; Priscilla Massengale 21; Alex Panks 15; Hope
Rayburn 8
Site: Florence, Ala. (Flowers Hall)
Date: Sep 23, 2012 Attend: 203 Time: 2:14
Referees: Ken Cain, Danny Humbers
 |  |
 |
Argos Sponsors
