MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Facing a stiff challenge in top-seeded Maryville, the Covenant volleyball team had their work cut out for them. The Lady Scots played tough, but could not overcome Maryville as the top-seed took a 3-1 (29-27, 22-25, 25-14, 25-20) victory in the semifinal round of the USA South Conference volleyball tournament.

Covenant ends its season with a 21-11 record, marking the third straight year of 20 or more victories. Maryville advances to face Averett in the championship match at 6 p.m. Saturday. 

Chelsea VanDyk led Covenant with 14 kills while Cora Schroeder added 10 kills and seven digs. Stephanie Kirkpatrick put together another solid performance with 39 assists and 16 digs. Estes Carlson added 16 digs.

The first set went back-and-forth as there were 16 tie scores throughout the game. Covenant continued to answer when Maryville had a game-point opportunity, until Maryville ended the set on a Covenant error at 29-27.

Covenant responded from the tough first set loss with a well-played second set as they tied the match at 1-1 with a 25-22 win. The Lady Scots fell behind 10-5, but rallied to tie the score at 13 apiece after a VanDyk kill and a Maryville error. Covenant would take the lead for good in the set on a rare kill from Carlson that made it 15-14. Caroline Cone would end the set with a kill of her own.

Maryville would be able to control the third set as they seized a 25-14 victory. The fourth set saw a rough start for Covenant as they fell behind 13-4.

However, the Lady Scots put one more run together.

Covenant scored 11 of the next 13 points to tie the match at 15-15 after another Maryville error. Covenant took a brief lead at 18-17 on a VanDyk kill, but Maryville answered with a run of its own to end the set.

Kelsey Handel and Julia Vineyard had 14 kills apiece for Maryville. Kristi Bowlin tallied 26 assists for the top-seeded Scots.