Volleyball Drops Season Opener to Truett McConnell 3-0

Cleveland, Georgia- In the season opener, the Brenau Golden Tigers fell to Truett McConnell (Ga.) University 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-9) in Appalachian Athletic Conference play on Saturday.

In the first set, the score remained close until the Bears' Abby Maxwell hit a service ace to increase her team's lead to 20-16. Brenau answered with two straight points as senior Lanier Leonard notched a kill, and then Truett McConnell's Bethany Ross added a service error to narrow the lead to 20-18. The Golden Tigers then cut the lead to 20-19 on a Rachel Hodges kill. However, the Bears answered with a 5-1 run to close out the set 25-20.

Truett McConnell (3-2 overall, 3-2 AAC) held momentum through the second set with a 25-16 win and into the third set by closing out the match with a strong 25-9 victory.

The host Bears outhit the Golden Tigers with a .245 to .000 attack percentage, while also earning a 41-22 kill advantage.

Sophomore Annabeth Vandiver and junior Rachel Hodges led the Golden Tigers with six kills each, while Leonard added three kills. Sophomore Julieanne Saliba had 12 digs and Kayleigh Reece had 10 digs.

Truett McConnell was led by Sonya Silecky's 13 kills.

Brenau (0-1 overall, 0-1 AAC) next travels to face Kentucky Christian (1-1 overall, 0-1 AAC) on Friday in Grayson, Kentucky.