Elizabethton, Tenn. – The Midway University volleyball team began their 2016 season on Friday in Elizabethton, Tennessee when they competed in the Milligan Mountain Madness Tournament at Milligan (Tenn.).

The Eagles (0-2) began the day with a matchup against Pikeville (Ky.) and ended with a game against the host, Milligan. Midway started fast against Pikeville (2-0) after winning the first set, but could finish as they fell 3-1 (28-30, 25-14, 31-29 and 25-20). In the nightcap, Milligan (4-2) got the best of the Eagles 3-0 (25-17, 25-19 and 25-16).

Midway returns to action tomorrow in the Milligan Mountain Madness Tournament when they take on Bluefield (Va.) at 9 a.m. ET and then they take on Talladega (Ala.) at 11 a.m. ET.

Midway 1, Pikeville 3

​Box Score

The Eagles got off to a strong start against the Bears after they won the first set in extra points at 30-28. Pikeville fired back with a 25-14 win in the second set to tie the match. The third set also went to extra points, but this time Pikeville came out on top 31-29. The Bears finished the match with a 25-20 win in the fourth set.

The Midway offense was led by Ricky Bowers (Long Beach, Calif.), who was nearly perfect for the match. Bowers finished with 17 kills and only one error on a .552 hitting clip. Freshman, Savanna Harrison (Battle Ground, Ind.) also had a strong outing with 12 kills and eight digs.

Hannah Payne (Louisville, Ky.) and Katie Roush (Malta, Ill.) led the Eagles defense with 18 and 12 digs, respectively. Courtney George (Louisville, Ky.) and Emmalee Fleener (Louisville, Ky.) took turns guiding the offense combining for 43 of the team's 45 assists.

Midway 0, Milligan 3

Box Score

In their second game of the day against Milligan, the Eagles' offense struggled as they hit .074 for the game against the stifling Buffaloes' defense. The Buffaloes on the other hand hit .307 for the match to come away with a sweep.

Once again leading the way for the offense was Ricky Bowers. This time out Bowers finished with 10 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Savanna Harrison finished with seven kills and seven digs.

Hannah Payne turned in her second double-digit dig game of the day with a team-high 11 digs. Katie Roush finished with nine digs. This time it was Ashley Sherrard (Louisville, Ky.) who ran the Midway offense with 14 assists.

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