MONTGOMERY, Ala. – MATCH 1 - No. 1 seed Blue Mountain Christian began its defense of its SSAC Tournament title Thursday morning with an easy 3-0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-19) win over No. 5 seed Mobile.
The big story in Match 1 of Pool A was the Volley Toppers' front line as they would rattle off 22 blocks to kick of the tournament, led by
A'Dasia Porter who had six assisted blocks.
Randi Crandall joined in with four assisted and a solo, while
Olivia Ashton had three assisted and a solo and
Kaytie Rutland had three assisted.
SSAC Player of the Year
Gigi Sasso got in on the blocking action, collecting three of her own along with six kills.
Rutland would lead the hitting charge, notching 10 kills while Ashton had seven and Crandall with five at a .714 clip.
The Toppers also collected seven service aces, with
Kora Wilson getting four of those and three in a row at one point.
Sasso and
Jaiyah Jackson provided the digs for the Volley Toppers with Sasso getting 14 and Jackson collecting 12.
Reanna Brown led the 6-2 with 17 assists and
Michaela Frederick chipped in 16.
MATCH 2
In the second game of Day 1, No. 4 seed Point offered little resistance to the Volley Toppers, as BMCU would also sweep them 3-0 (25-10, 25-19, 25-13) to run its winning streak to 21 straight games.
BMCU would swing at a .409 clip as a team with
Olivia Ashton blasting nine kills and
Kaytie Rutland hitting for eight.
Reanna Brown collected a double-double with 20 assists and 12 digs in the 6-2, with
Michaela Frederick dishing out 11 assists.
Randi Crandall was unstoppable around the net for Blue Mountain, killing seven balls at a .700 clip and getting three assisted blocks and two solos. Ashton would also chip in three assisted blocks and
Jaiyah Jackson would add 10 digs.
Gigi Sasso and
Kora Wilson both added two service aces apiece in the victory, with Sasso notching seven kills.
The Toppers have now won 27 straight sets without a blemish and continue the march to its third straight SSAC Tournament title.
"Our ladies played extremely well today to start the tournament," BMCU head coach
Reid Gann said. "Our defense did an outstanding job around the net today and our hitters did a good job of finishing their opportunities. We still have work to do, and it will only get tougher from here."
The Toppers (23-1) will now take on No. 8 seed Faulkner Friday to kick off the second day with first serve set for 11 a.m.
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