Converse Volleyball Completes Weekend Sweep
Spartanburg, SC — Converse defeated both Elizabeth City State and Fayetteville State (FSU) this afternoon to complete the weekend sweep. With the two wins, Converse College completed competition in the Converse Volleyball Invitational with a record of 3-0.
Converse won their first match in three games (30-15, 30-16, 30-15). Melanie Wallace, a junior from Texas, and Michelle Sloan, a senior from Spartanburg, led the way offensively with six kills a piece. Wallace also led the team with 14 digs. For the second match in a row, Baye Williamson served a match high five aces. Another Texan, Allison Ralston, would pave the way with 18 assists in the first match.
The All-Stars would start their second match of the day, where the finished the first match. Converse jumped out to a 16-4 lead and never looked back. They would eventually win the first game 30-18. In the second game, Fayetteville State seemed poised to battle Converse. However, with FSU trailing by only two at 14-12, the All-Stars would rattle off nine consecutive points to take a 23-12 lead. The Lady Broncos would match Converse point for point the rest of the way, but the All-Stars had all they needed to take game two by a score of 30-20. The host school would take game three by the score of 30-18 and finish the weekend undefeated to start the season 3-0. Senior Lauren Mueller led the team with 15 kills in the match. Sloan added 11 kills while also leading the team with 18 digs. Ralston surpassed her mark from the first match with 27 assists in the second match.
“It was a big weekend for us to finish 3-0 and defeat 3 regional opponents. These were three good teams from the CIAA, including North Carolina Central who was in the NCAA Tournament last season,” said Coach Bill Rude on the team’s performance this weekend. “I fell positive about how we are developing as a team and the cohesiveness is as solid as any team I have ever coached.”
Next weekend is another big weekend for the All-Stars as they travel to Montevallo, AL to face two more NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago. Converse will take Albany State and Southern Arkansas. Converse will return home after a three match road trip to host CVAC opponent Barton College on September 8th at 7:00 pm.
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