The Eagles start SoCon play on top

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  • Photo by: Chad Kenney/Freshman setter Katalin Minnerly (1) sets the ball in prep for a GSU point.

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Jackie Gutknecht

 

The Georgia Southern University volleyball team came out on top in its first Southern Conference matches of the season bringing their record to 11-5 overall and 2-0 in the SoCon.

Friday GSU overpowered the Wofford College Terriers and came out on top with a 3-1 victory.

Senior outside Meredith Paskert led the Eagles with 16 kills, three digs and two service aces, while senior outside Moriah Bellissimo tallied 13 kills, 15 digs and two blocks. Sophomore outside Jamie DeRatt collected 11 kills, 17 digs, for the Eagles, while senior setter Kate Van Dyke had 46 assist and 10 digs.

Ahead 2-0 going into the third set, the Eagles were looking to sweep but the Terriers shook things up with a 6-1 run to win the set 25-22, causing a fourth set.

Leading 2-1 in the match, GSU used a 7-1 run to get ahead in the fourth set. Paskert led the run with a kill and an ace, and junior middle Enjoli Johnson added a kill. The Eagles turned an 8-7 lead into a seven-point gap, and the margin did not dip below four points for the rest of the set.

GSU then went on to sweep their second SoCon competitor of the season, the Furman University Paladins, 3-0 on Saturday.

Sophomore middle Kym Coley and DeRatt each tallied 10 kills and the Eagles trailed just once in the match. Coley also collected three blocks and two digs, while DeRatt added 10 digs.

Bellissimo added nine kills and seven digs for the Eagles while Paskert gained eight kills and six digs. Van Dyke had 37 assists for the powerhouse offense as the team hit .301 with 46 kills.

GSU started each set strong, and fell behind once, a 1-0 deficit to start the second set. The deficit was short lived as the Eagles had a 7-0 run for a 6-point advantage. The Paladins came close, but the set ended in a 25-23 GSU victory.

GSU hosts The Citadel Friday Sept. 28 and College of Charleston Saturday Sept. 29 in Hanner Fieldhouse.