PENSACOLA, Fla. – The 15th-ranked University of West Florida (13-4, 4-1) volleyball team swept the previously undefeated Montevallo Falcons Thursday night. UWF is now tied for first with Montevallo 5-1 in the Gulf South Conference. UWF hit .230 for the day, while holding UM (14-2, 15-1 GSC) to a .059 attack percentage.
The Argos offense was led by Jordyn Poppen and JoDee Kovanda, who nearly got a kill every time they touched the ball, West Florida dominated to victories in the first two sets, winning 25-19 and 25-16, respectively. Kovanda hit a .600, going 7-10 with just one error, and Poppen added 13 kills with a .370 hitting percentage. Makila York picked up eight kills in the victory followed by Nadine Williams, Mackenzie Chrisman, and Caleigh Morrison all with four kills.
UWF came into the first set with a rowdy crowd bringing the energy for the long rallies that were ahead. The Argos and the Falcons battled head-to-head for the first 10 points and then the Argos started to put away the long rallies. UWF took the first set 25-19 with Poppen going 4-8 hitting a .500 at the end of the first.
The second set showed relentless effort from the Argos, as the team had 5 blocks and pushed hard on defense to never let a ball fall. Ashton Marshall picked up four huge digs in this set, and Poppen and York both had three kills each in the set.
UM had got off to a hot start in the third and final set, but UWF then took the lead after being tied 11-11 with a kill by Poppen from Taylor Vaneekeren to go ahead by one and stay ahead till the final 25-22. The Falcons tired to come back near the end closing the gap 20-21 and then 21-22 with a couple of service errors by the Argos. In the last three points, the Argos will put away three kills, one by Morrison from Brogan Wallin and two kills by York, one from Marshall and one from Vaneekeren, would finish the set and match.
Without a doubt, West Florida came out to win during the Blackout match on Thursday as they took down the only undefeated team in the GSC. Marshall and Williams led all players with 13 digs each, while setter Vaneekeren added 8, and Wallin had 6. Vaneekeren also led the Argonauts with 20 assists, followed by Wallin's 14.
West Florida will host Auburn Montgomery who is 9-7 overall and 0-5 in the GSC. Auburn Montgomery will face Alabama-Huntsville Friday before traveling to Pensacola on Saturday, September 29th.
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