(KINGSPORT, Tenn.) – The No. 7 Truett McConnell University women’s volleyball team traveled to compete in the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament, where they faced the No. 10 Johnson University Royals, falling short in four sets to conclude the 2022 season. TMU finished with a record of 18-18, 11-9 AAC.
PLAY-BY-PLAY
In the first set, the Lady Bears were first on the board with a kill from Katie Williams, followed by a kill from Leah Bowen to secure an early lead. Both teams were evenly matched until a three-point rally from TMU included kills from Ranavia Neal and Bowen to break away from the Royals. A late rally from the Royals sent them ahead of the Lady Bears, where a late six-point rally recaptured TMU’s lead. A kill from Bowen and Brooklynn Brock secured set one (25-19). In the second set, the Royals were first to score and took an early lead over the Lady Bears. A four-point rally saw two kills from Jordan Roberts and a kill from Bowen to keep TMU in the set. A five-point rally from the Royals created a large deficit, followed by a late four-point rally to leave TMU behind, 14-25.
In the third set, a kill from Williams sparked the Lady Bears, but a five-point rally from the Royals propelled them ahead. A TMU rally saw two consecutive kills from Williams, followed by a kill from Sonya Silecky and Neal kept the Lady Bears within distance. A late four-point rally left TMU to fall 17-25. In the final set, both teams were neck-and-neck until a four-point rally from the Royals sent them ahead. A three-point rally included kills from Neal, Bowen, and Roberts gave the Lady Bears hope, where a kill from Silecky brought TMU within two. A kill from the Royals concluded the Lady Bears 2022 season (22-25).
LEADERS
Neal led the way with 12 kills on the evening, followed by Williams with 11 and Bowen with nine of her own. Deomi Valmus tallied 25 digs on the day, while Brock had 17 and Silecky had 14. Brock recorded 45 assists on the day.
