Bulldogs Go .500 in Spartanburg Methodist Tournament

SPARTANBURG, S.C.—While many relaxed during Labor Day Weekend, Pitt Community College volleyball was hard at work in the Spartanburg Methodist College Pioneer Invitational.

The Bulldogs ended up with a 2-2 mark in the tournament after beating Brunswick Community College and the host school but twice losing to North Lake College out of Texas.

PCC started off tourney play on the right note Friday with a convincing, 2-0 win over Brunswick. Behind Haley Galimore’s seven kills and 13 assists from Jessica Sweers, the Bulldogs took set one from the Dolphins, 25-20, before winning the second, 25-23.

Coach Tom Marsh said good serving was the difference for his team, which also received four kills from freshman Courtney Everette.

Against North Lake on Saturday, the Dawgs ran out to a 24-20 lead in the first frame but couldn’t cash in on any of their four game points. It ended up costing them, too, as the Blazers rallied to win the first set, 29-27, before taking the second—and the match—25-17.

Morghan Stallings led the way for Pitt offensively with eight kills, and Kirsten Kelley added five more. Natalie Salter led the team in digs with nine.

In game three of round-robin play, PCC tackled the tournament host and ended up beating the Pioneers, 2-0 (25-20 and 26-24).

Everette had six kills for Pitt and Eleni Bates four. Salter had nine digs, and Sweers tallied 11 assists in the victory.

Though the Bulldogs managed to survive serving errors against Spartanburg Methodist, Marsh said miscues from the service line carried over into the team’s re-match with North Lake.

The Blazers took advantage of the mistakes and came away with a 2-0 win, taking set one, 25-17, and set two, 25-20.

Stallings had seven kills for the Bulldogs while Everette tacked on three more on only six attempts. Sweers posted 11 assists, and Salter recorded eight digs against North Lake, which went on to win the championship.

PCC is now 3-3 on the season and returns to the court Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Kinston for a Region X Conference matchup with Lenoir Community College.

09/08/2009