In its final two matches before the start of conference
play next weekend, the Stetson volleyball team fell in straight sets to Charleston
Southern and Wofford Saturday at the East Bay Deli Invitational in Charleston,
S.C.
Five of the six sets were decided by four points or less as the Buccaneers
(5-8) won by scores of 25-21, 25-23, 25-22, and the Terriers (8-3) won by scores of
25-21, 25-22, 25-18.
Senior libero Monique Russell was named to the all-tournament team for the
Hatters (3-13) after recording 59 digs over the three matches this weekend.
On Saturday, senior Kelli Carneal recorded 21 kills and freshman Cailyn
Prewitt registered 20 kills to help lead the offense. Freshman setter Kayla Weller dished out 48
assists on the day.
Stetson had more kills than its opponent in both matches, but was victimized
by 23 service errors in the two matches combined.
“We out-killed both teams but we had a bunch of hitting errors, serving
errors, and serve reception errors,” Stetson head coach Tim Loesch said. “I thought Kelli Carneal and Cailyn Prewitt each
had a good day, and Kayla Weller had a couple of good matches as well.”
In the first match against CSU, Carneal had nine kills to lead the offense,
while Kaley Melville and Prewitt added eight kills apiece. Russell picked up 16 digs, and Weller
recorded 23 assists.
Stetson recorded 40 kills and hit .185 for the match, but committed 13
service errors and recorded just one block.
In the second match against Wofford, Carneal and Prewitt each recorded
double-doubles for the Hatters. Carneal
collected 12 kills, one shy of her career-high, and added 11 assists and seven
digs. She committed only two errors and
hit .455 for the match. Prewitt tallied
11 kills and 11 digs for her first career double-double, Russell picked up 11
digs, and Weller finished with a career-high 25 assists.
Stetson recorded 42 kills and hit .197 against the Terriers, but committed 10 service errors and nine serve receive errors.
“We have to get better at serving and passing, and we are still trying to
finalize one or two positions that nobody has really won yet,” Loesch
said. “We need a couple girls to step up
and claim those spots.”
The Hatters begin Atlantic Sun Conference play next weekend with a 7 p.m. Friday
night match at Mercer followed by a 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon match at Kennesaw
State.
