Game Information
Score: Keiser 3, Milligan 0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-14)
Records: Keiser (4-0), Milligan (1-2)
Location: McAlister Gymnasium – Montreat, N.C.
Milligan Starters: K. Geren, C. Bateman, S. Bruinius, J. Foster, A. Gibson, A. Rupert; libero – G. Moorhouse
Keiser Starters: M. Minke, S. Thompson, N. Papineau, V. Hietala, C. Zamora, N. McKown; libero – M. Leff
 
Highlights
Keiser capped off the Volley in the Mountains tournament with a 3-0 sweep over Milligan, concluding the event with a perfect 4-0 record to begin the season. Nikki McKown led the attacking effort with 15, while Veera Hietala and Chantelle Zamora each chipped in 10. Zamora also led the squad in digs with 12. Nicole Papineau recorded 42 of the team's 47 assists during the match. Hietala finished the match with an astounding .714 hitting percentage, while McKown finished with .520. As a team, the Seahawks posted a .396 hitting percentage compared to .140 from the Buffaloes.
 
How it Happened
Set One:
Keiser cruised to a seven-point first set victory after opening the match on a 7-3 run with McKown launching three kills and picking up an assisted block. The Seahawks never relinquished the lead despite Milligan tying the first set at 17 apiece. Consecutive kills by Zamora, McKown and Hietala aided the Seahawks in scoring four unanswered points to reclaim the late 21-17 edge. Keiser then sailed to the 25-18 victory, aided by six first-set kills from McKown.
 
Set Two:
The Seahawks claimed the early 7-3 advantage for the second consecutive set. However, the Buffaloes retaliated with four unanswered points to even the set at seven. The Seahawks outscored Milligan 11-4 over the next 15 points to secure a seven-point cushion. Zamora notched four kills during the Keiser run, elevating the Seahawks over the Buffaloes. Milligan could not cut the deficit to less than three as Keiser held off any attack by the Buffaloes. The Seahawks claimed the 25-21 second-set victory after Patricia Costa smashed the set-clinching kill.
 
Set Three:
Keiser pulled away midway in the set to cruise to the 25-14 victory. The Seahawks found themselves in an early 7-3 hole to begin the third set but bounced back to even the set at eight apiece after back-to-back kills by Samantha Thompson and Zamora. The two squads traded points until the Seahawks pulled ahead for good after consecutive kills by McKown. Milligan trimmed the lead in half, 12-11, before Keiser raced to a 4-0 spurt fueled by the serves of Lindsey Keegan. The Seahawks never looked back, closing the final set on a 9-3 run to claim the 3-0 victory.
 
Coach's Quote:
I couldn't be happier for this team and how we started the season. We faced four good teams that challenged us and forced us outside of our comfort zone. The team responded well, making adjustments to keep us on top.
 
Team Leaders:
Milligan
Kills: 7 – Bailey Thomas
Assists: 23 – Kellee Geren
Digs: 11 – Grace Ann Moorhouse
Keiser
Kills: 15 – Nikki McKown
Assists: 42 – Nicole Papineau
Digs: 12 – Chantelle Zamora
 
Up Next
Keiser returns to action on Thursday as it welcomes Johnson into town for the Seahawks' home opener at 7 p.m. at Countess de Hoernle Student Life Center.