VOLLEYBALL

On opening day of the Music City Invitational hosted by Fisk University, the HU volleyball team took two on the chin with losses to Georgetown, 25-9, 25-10, 25-14, and #RV Milligan, 21-25, 14-25, 25-20, 25-13, 15-5, to drop to 5-4 on the year.

Against Georgetown, HU never got much going to suffer their worst loss of the year. They finished with just 11 kills for the match and an uncharacteristic negative hitting percentage as the Tigers had their way on the afternoon to make quick work of the Foresters.

Herber and crew had a few hours to regroup and the break served them well as they came out blazing against Milligan to win a close first set and then tally an impressive 11-point win in set No. 2. Unfortunately, it was all Buffs after that as they slipped past HU in the third set and then bulldozed their way through the next two sets for the five-set win. It was Milligan’s fifth win of the season against just two losses.

“Our goal in the second match was to communicate before, during and after every play,” said Coach Herber. “We did exactly that in the first two sets. However, once we eased up in our communication, we loosened our grip on controlling the match.”

Paige Eakright topped the Foresters with 13 kills. Brea Metz added 11 kills on 17 swings for an impressive .529 hitting percentage. Brandy Michie posted eight kills while Jennings Tacosik collected seven and finished with a double-double of 41 assists and a team-best 17 digs.

“The only way we can chalk up today as a failure is if we don’t allow it to make us better,” said Herber. “I still believe in this team and what they are capable of this season with everything in me. Tomorrow is a new day with new opportunities.”

The Foresters will look to bounce back tomorrow when they play Loyola and Freed-Hardeman before heading back to Hoosier land.