
MORRISTOWN, TN – No. 16 Walters State made quick work of Cleveland State Thursday evening, grabbing a 3-0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-17) sweep.
With the win, the Lady Senators improved to 13-3 overall and 3-0 in TCCAA play.
"Another good win in the conference," Walters State coach Megan Blaylock said. "I liked the way we came out during the start of the first and second sets. We just still need to work on growing those leads and not letting the opposition back into it. We've got four matches next week against some strong competition, so we have to be ready to go."
Rylee Haynie got Walters State going early in the opening set, with three kills in the first four points. Walters State pushed their lead out to 8-3, but Cleveland State cut it to one with four straight points. The Lady Senators broke the run with a block and kill by Veda Barton.
After the two points from Barton, Haynie had a block and ace and Mims had two kills to make it 18-10. It was 20-11 after kills by Catherine Sweeney and Mims and 22-11 following an ace from Annah Cate Hyatt. Cleveland State scored late to make it somewhat close, but the Lady Senators closed out the set, 25-16.
In set two, Walters State scored the first six points. Olivia Brown had an ace, Haynie had a kill, Mims had a kill and Barton had a kill. Cleveland State got the lead down to 8-6, but the Lady Senators rallied off four straight. A Sweeney kill and Alyssa Campbell block highlighted the run.
The Lady Senators never struggled in the set after as Mims racked up two more kills and Campbell, Haynie and Finley Surber had kills. Walters State won the set, 25-15, with a block by Sweeney ending it.
Cleveland State had the upper hand to start the final set, leading until the Lady Senators tied it at 10. Following the tie, Walters State scored seven straight to go ahead as Haynie had two blocks and Barton had a kill. The lead grew to 22-12 following a kill by Sweeney, and Walters State closed it out soon after at 25-17.
Up Next:
Walters State will be on the road Tuesday, taking on Chattanooga State at 6:30 p.m.