MIDWAY, Ky. — Midway women's volleyball picked up its first home victory of the season on Tuesday, sweeping Alice Lloyd 3-0 inside Marshall Gymnasium.
The Eagles (3-13) earned the victory by scores of 25-18, 25-23 and 25-22. The win extended Midway's perfect record against Alice Lloyd to 20-0 all-time and marked the 10th consecutive meeting in which the Eagles have swept the Eagles from Pippa Passes.
Midway set the tone offensively in the opening set, hitting .333 with 12 kills and just three attacking errors. The two teams traded points throughout the early stages, with the frame featuring 13 ties and seven lead changes. Alice Lloyd held a 16-15 advantage before Midway took control.
A kill by Alyssa Medeiros tied the set at 16 before Midway scored the next three points to turn the one-point deficit into a 19-16 lead. After Alice Lloyd stopped the run with a kill, the Eagles responded with another three straight points, highlighted by kills from Lanie Cornelius and Mayson Delong, to stretch the advantage to 22-17. Midway closed the set on a 10-2 run overall, with a block by Cornelius and Allie McClanahan sealing the 25-18 victory.
The second set proved to be the closest of the night. Neither side was able to create much separation as Alice Lloyd produced 11 kills and Midway finished with 12. The Eagles were forced to overcome eight attacking errors in the frame, but they found a way to make the decisive plays late to pull out a 25-23 victory and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
With a chance to close out the sweep, Midway again had to battle through a tight third set. Both teams hit .067 in the frame, but the Eagles held Alice Lloyd to nine kills and forced seven attacking errors. Midway recorded 10 kills of its own and finished off the match with a 25-22 victory.
The Eagles' offense was led by McClanahan, who finished with a match-high nine kills while committing just one error on 22 attempts for a .364 hitting percentage. Delong added seven kills, while Medeiros chipped in six. Morgan Broderick provided an efficient performance in the middle, putting down four kills without an error on nine swings for a team-best .444 hitting percentage.
Midway continued to use its two-setter system effectively. Mayme Powell dished out a team-high 13 assists to go along with seven digs, while Peyton Osteen finished with 12 assists and three digs. Marlee Laycock led the defensive effort with eight digs and added four assists.
The Eagles also held the advantage at the net. Midway totaled six blocks compared to four for Alice Lloyd, with Broderick and Cornelius each taking part in three. Cornelius recorded the Eagles' lone solo block, while Medeiros and Delong each contributed two block assists.
As a team, Midway finished with 34 kills and hit .155 for the match, while Alice Lloyd recorded 32 kills and a .112 attacking percentage. The Eagles also held narrow advantages in digs, 34-33, and assists, 31-27.
Taylor Baker led Alice Lloyd (8-7) with eight kills, while Rose Scotello and Jadyn Hall finished with seven apiece. Peyton Taylor directed the offense with 24 assists, and Gracie Gibson finished with a match-high nine digs.
The victory moves Midway to 3-13 overall and gives the Eagles their first win inside Marshall Gymnasium this season.
UP NEXT:
Midway hits the road for two River State Conference contests. First up will be the Golden Bears of West Virginia Tech on Friday night at 6:30. The roadtrip ends in Rio Grande as they will take on the Red Storm at 1:00 PM.
About Midway University Athletics
Midway University competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and its 29 athletics teams are part of the River States Conference, Mid-South Conference, Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association and USA Archery. For more information about Midway University Athletics, please visit www.gomidwayeagles.com or contact Tyler Beck at 859-846-5366.
