Game Information
Score: Keiser 3, Shawnee State 1 (26-24, 24-26, 25-18, 25-22)
Records: Keiser (3-0), Shawnee State (1-2)
Location: McAlister Gymnasium – Montreat, N.C.
Shawnee State Starters: C. Shell, D. Smith, M. Dillow, B. Wiget, M. Huff, L. Helbig; libero – R. Day
Keiser Starters: M. Minke, S. Thompson, N. Papineau, V. Hietala, C. Zamora, N. McKown; libero – M. Leff
 
Highlights
Keiser Volleyball Head Coach Chris Taylor earned his 100^th career victory as the Seahawks bested Shawnee State by the final score of 3-1. The victory marked the first time that Keiser has defeated Shawnee State and the second time in three seasons starting with a 3-0 mark. Chantelle Zamora led the attack with 13 kills, including five in the deciding set. Zamora also picked up the game-clinching block that ended any thoughts of a Bears' comeback. Nikki McKown, Samantha Thompson and Veera Hietala combined for 30 kills. Nicole Papineau recorded 46 assists, quickly eclipsing the 100 mark through the first three contests.
 
How it Happened
Set One:
In the opening frame, Keiser was forced into extra points but came out victorious, winning 26-24. McKown and Zamora each recorded two kills in Keiser's first five points, aiding the Seahawks in jumping out to a 5-2 advantage. Following two service aces by Megan Minke and a kill by Hietala, Keiser found themselves in a comfortable 8-2 lead. After reaching a seven-point lead, the Bears clawed back into the contest, winning eight of the next 11 points to cut the Keiser lead to just two. Shawnee State then claimed a 19-17 advantage before Keiser rallied off three consecutive points to reclaim a brief one-point lead due in large part to McKown and the defense of Papineau and Thompson. The two squads battled back-and-forth to finish the set, including tying the contest five times before the Seahawks pulled away for the two-point victory after kills by Hietala and Thompson.
 
Set Two:
The second set resulted in a similar scoreline, but it was Shawnee State this time who pulled ahead late to win 26-24. Keiser found itself trailing by three early in the match before tying the contest at seven apiece. The Bears reclaimed a brief 9-7 lead before the Seahawks soared ahead with six consecutive points. Keiser took the 13-9 lead after two service aces by Papineau and back-to-back kills by Hietala and Zamora. Much like in the first set Shawnee State clawed back into the game to tie the contest late before breaking the 24-all tie to win the second set.
 
Set Three:
Keiser claimed the third set in convincing fashion despite trailing by as much as five to open up the third frame. With the Seahawks trailing 11-9, Papineau launched back-to-back service aces to tie the set for the first time since it was 1-1. Four points later with the score knotted at 13-13, Keiser tallied four unanswered points to take the 17-13 advantage after kills by Hietala and McKown. The Bears trimmed the Keiser lead to two following a timeout. However, McKown's back-to-back kills followed by Morgan Stuive's back-to-back service aces extended the lead to a comfortable five points. The Seahawks rode the momentum to cruise to the 25-18 third set victory, taking a 2-1 overall advantage.
 
Set Four:
Keiser clinched the victory in the fourth set after completing an astounding comeback that featured five kills and two blocks by Zamora. The Bears claimed the early 7-2 advantage and held the Seahawks at bay for most of the set. With Shawnee State ahead 19-14, the resilience of the Seahawks paid off as Zamora smashed a kill, sparking a 6-0 run. McKown then placed consecutive service aces to trim the deficit to two. McKown held the serve for six unanswered points before Shawnee State knotted the contest at 20. After the Bears reclaimed the 22-21 lead, the Seahawks rattled off four unanswered points to win the set following Zamora's game-clinching block.
 
Team Leaders:
Shawnee State
Kills: 19 – Lauren Helbig
Assists: 39 – Deanna Smith
Digs: 27 – Rhyanna Day
Keiser
Kills: 13 – Chantelle Zamora
Assists: 46 – Nicole Papineau
Digs: 19 – Chantelle Zamora
 
Up Next
Keiser will conclude its play at the Volley in the Mountains tournament at 4 p.m. this afternoon with a showdown against Milligan. The Seahawks are 2-1 all-time against the Buffaloes.