Box Score
SALISBURY, NC – Behind two 20-kill players, the Blue Bear volleyball team defeated the St. Paul's Tigers Saturday afternoon at the Trent Gym 3-2.
With the win the Blue Bears improved to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in conference play while St. Paul's fell to 1-9 overall and 0-8 in the conference.
“We didn't come in with the intensity that we needed tonight,” head coach Reginald Isley said. “This made the match a lot more difficult for it than it needed to be.”
Livingstone was led offensively by sophomore Michelle Thompson who tallied 26 kills and junior Lashaundra Ferguson who finished with 20 kills. Junior Shannon Allen tallied 37 assists for the Blue Bears.
In the first game the Blue Bears went up early only to see the Tigers battle back. Livingstone was up by only one at 10-9, but quickly opened their advantage to six points at 18-12. St. Paul's made a small run late in the game to get back within four, but the Blue Bears squashed that attempt and took the first game 25-19.
Livingstone struggled mightily in the second game. After leading for a brief moment early in the game, the Tigers turned up the pressure. St. Paul's finished off the Blue Bears 25-19 to square the match at one game apiece.
The Blue Bears rebounded well in the third game. Livingstone fell behind 5-3 early, but junior Shannon Allen got the Blue Bears back into the game from the service line. Behind Allen's service the Blue Bears took eight-straight points to go up 11-5. Livingstone increased their lead to nine at 18-11 as they finished off the Tigers in game three 25-14.
The fourth game was a battle. Livingstone went up early and looked poised to take the fourth set easily half way through, but the Tigers fought back. St. Paul's went up by two at 17-15, but Livingstone came back to take a one-point edge at 18-17. St. Paul's went up 23-20 and had game point at 24-23, but a kill by Thompson kept the game alive. The newfound life was short lived at St. Paul's took the final two points to take the fourth game 26-24. Also in the fourth set the Blue Bears lost their primary setter, junior Shannon Allen to injury.
“Despite the low intensity early in the match, the team really rallied after Shannon went down,” Isley said.
The fifth set was dominated early by the Blue Bears. Livingstone led 13-4 when St. Paul's started their run. The Tigers took seven of eight points to get within 14-11, but Livingstone took the next point and won the fifth set 15-11 and the match 3-2.
As a team the Blue Bears hit .272 with 65 kills, 51 assists and 70 digs. The Tigers hit .089 with 30 kills, 20 assists and 56 digs.
The Blue Bears will be back in action Monday, Sept. 21 when they travel to take on St. Augustine's at 6 p.m.
