Troy Falls in Five Set Heartbreaker on Senior Day

Friday, November 10

Troy, Ala.

4 p.m.

Troy University

14-12,12-4Sun Belt

Georgia Southern

20-7,10-6Sun Belt

Ga. Southern

Troy

Troy Falls in Five Set Heartbreaker on Senior Day

11/10/2023 10:07:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala – After downing Georgia Southern in five sets last night, Troy fell in another five-set thriller, 3-2 (25-17, 24-26, 25-17, 20-25, 15-5), on Senior Day.

Troy (14-12, 12-4) honored senior Julia Brooks prior to the match. Heading into the Sun Belt Tournament, Brooks ranks first all-time in career blocks with 408 and 108 solo blocks. She is the only Trojan to reach 1,401 career kills and 413 blocks.

Tori Hester led Troy, notching 18 kills and 26 digs, recording her 11th double-double of the season.

Georgia Southern (20-7, 10-6) started strong in set one with a kill from Regan Barth to give the Eagles a lead at 7-5. The Eagles put a run together with three aces from Barth and back-to-back kills from Chamblee Russell to grab a 17-7 lead. Troy clawed back within four points with an Ella Broadhead kill at the 21-17 mark. Georgia Southern capitalized on Trojan errors before using another kill from Barth to secure a 1-0 lead in the match.

Troy and Georgia Southern traded points until the Eagles pulled away from an ace by Callaway Cason 16-12. Troy clawed away at the lead with a 4-0 run capped off with a Julia Brooks kill to get within two at 17-19. Troy remained within two at 22-20 with a Broadhead kill. Chamblee Russell slammed one down to get the Eagles to match point at 21-24. Brooks tallied a kill to start a 6-0 Troy run. Behind three kills from Butler in the run, Troy nabbed the come from behind victory to tie the match 1-1.

The Eagles jumped to a 13-7 lead with a kill from Megan Vickery in the third set. With a 3-0 run and Georgia Southern errors, the Trojans climbed back within two, capped off with a Broadhead kill at the 17-15 mark. Tori Hester nabbed the last Trojan kill at 23-17, but it was back-to-back kills from Barth to close the door, giving Georgia Southern a 2-1 lead.

Like most of the night, the Eagles grabbed an early 9-3 lead behind Trojan errors and a kill from Barth. Troy rallied back to take the lead at 17-14 after back-to-back kills from Butler. Hester slammed down a pair of kills for Troy to push the lead to 22-17. The Trojans would hold that five-point lead through the final points to force the fifth set.

However, Georgia Southern would earn the five-set victory after tallying six total kills and four blocks.

Chamblee Russell led Georgia Southern (20-7, 10-6) with 19 kills and seven digs. Defensively, Vickery at the net tallied 11 blocks and Ashlyn Lovett notched 21 digs.

Up Next
On Thursday, the Trojans will travel to Foley, Ala., to compete in the Sun Belt Conference Championship.

Stat Leaders
Kills: Tori Hester – 19
Assists: Janelle Stuempfig – 44
Digs: Tori Hester – 26
Blocks: Julia Brooks – 6
Aces: Caroline Darracott, Tori Hester, Janelle Stuempfig – 1

Notes

Georgia Southern out-blocked Troy with 21 while the Trojans recorded eight.
Janelle Stuempfig recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 44 assists and 13 digs.
Butler and Hester shined in the fourth set with six kills apiece to force a deciding set five.