Trojans Grab First Win in Wild Five-Set Contest

Friday, August 31

Martin, Tenn.

7:00 p.m.

Troy University

UT Martin

Trojans Grab First Win in Wild Five-Set Contest

8/31/2012 9:51:00 PM | Volleyball

By: Matt Mays

Box Score

MARTIN, Tenn. – The Troy volleyball team got its first win of the 2012 season, although it wasn't easy, as the Trojans defeated host UT Martin at the First State Skyhawk Invitational on Friday night, 3-2 (25-16, 20-25, 25-17, 15-25, 15-13).

A match that the Trojans (1-3) owned early turn into a nail biter as the Skyhawks (0-4) dominated the fourth set to force a deciding fifth set in which Troy come from behind late to win.

“I'm proud of the team for gutting out a win like this,” Troy head coach Sonny Kirkpatrick said. “And to get your first win like this, it could be something that turns around our season.”

The Trojans trailed 12-9 in the deciding set, but used a UT Martin service error to build some momentum and pull closer. With Troy within two at 13-11, a kill by Blair Winston started a clutch four-point run that concluded with an Alexandra Alexander kill and Troy victory.

Alexander ran the Trojan attack very well as she posted a season-high 41 assists. Her defense was just as impressive as the junior setter recorded a career-high 28 digs. Courtney Cohen also neared the 30-dig mark as she posted 27 with three other Trojans recording 10 digs (Kelley Curran, Mailande Parker, Madeleine Bouillion).

Troy held UT Martin to a .119 attack percentage for the match, including a match-low .031 clip in the final set.

Offensively, Breanna Cullity and Winston each recorded 12 kills to lead the Trojans while Cullity posted a team-best .310 attack percentage and also a match-high five blocks. Kayla Pickart and Devin Von Pingel each posted eight kills for the visiting Trojans.

Kelly Hogan led the Skyhawks with 13 kills while Kasey Elswick posted a match-high 40 digs.

Troy came out firing on all cylinders as the Trojans hit .263 in the opening set with 14 kills and just four errors, but UT Martin came from behind in set two after Troy led 20-16 and used a nine-point run to even the match up at a set apiece.

The Trojans topped their set one performance in the third set with 17 kills and four errors for a .302 attack percentage, but again the Skyhawks responded by hitting .238 in a fourth set win that forced the deciding fifth set.

Troy continues action at the two-day tournament on Saturday as the Trojans take on DePaul at 11 a.m. and Wright State at 5 p.m.

“We played better but we still have some rough spots to clean up before we face two good teams tomorrow,” Kirkpatrick said. “This was a good win for us, but we're still trying to figure out some things this weekend and make adjustments to what we're doing.”

For more information, be sure to visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.