VOLLEYBALL STOPS HUNTINGTON FOR FIRST CROSSROADS LEAGUE WIN
UPLAND, Ind. – The Taylor volleyball team knocked off Huntington to pick up its first Crossroads League victory of the season on Wednesday night.
Taylor (7-4, 1-1 CL) utilized a balanced offensive attack with senior Becca Gerig leading the way with 13 kills while senior Kayla Spring added 12 kills and sophomore Callie Drage tallied ten terminations. The Trojans finished the match with a .205 attack percentage while junior setter Haley Harrell orchestrated the attack with 33 assists to go along with a pair of two service aces.
Huntington (6-6, 1-1 CL) jumped out to a 13-6 lead in the opening set and maintained the advantage on its way to a 25-18 win. The Trojans responded in set two by quickly opening a 6-1 lead. Huntington drew to within two at 10-8 before TU regained control with a pair of blocks from Drage and Rachel Bouma followed by an ace from Harrell to cap a 7-1 run and give Taylor a 17-9 lead. The Trojans maintained the lead en route to a 25-19 win to even the match at one set each.
The Foresters jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the third set but after Taylor pulled even at 5-5 the teams traded punches until HU claimed a 16-14 lead. That’s when Drage sparked a 7-2 run with a trio of kills to propel the Trojans to a 25-19 win.
The Trojans used a 4-0 run to turn an 8-7 lead into a 12-7 advantage in the early stages of the fourth set. Taylor maintained its lead before Huntington unleashed a 7-2 run late in the set to draw even with Taylor at 21-21. With the set tied at 24-24, junior Addy Bailey and Gerig tallied back-to-back kills to propel the Trojans to a 26-24 win and a four-set victory.
Senior Laura Craig anchored the Taylor back row with 24 digs while Harrell added 12 digs and Gerig finished with 11 digs. The Trojans limited Huntington to a .123 attack percentage while tallying eight blocks.
Taylor will return to action on Friday with a trip to Indiana Wesleyan to face the 21st-ranked Wildcats at 7:00 pm.