MT BERRY, Ga. - Covenant played its final two matches on Saturday before beginning conference play. Its two opponents were against quality opposition as the Scots fell 3-1 to both Berry and No. 22 Centre. 

Final:  Covenant 1, Berry 3
Records: Covenant (4-7), Berry (4-7)

FIRST SET:

• With the help of two kills from Kennedy Barber, Covenant opened the match on a 5-0 run. 
• Midway through the set, the Vikings went on an 11-1 run to jump ahead 12-7.
• The Scots kept fighting as a kill from Delaney Stirm put them back within one point at 16-15.
• Covenant did not draw any closer as three consecutive kills at the end of the set for Berry gave it a 25-20 win.

SECOND SET:

• Berry used that momentum gained at the end of the first set to go up 10-5 in set two.
• After going down eight points, a 4-0 Scots run capped off by a service ace from Sarah Jennings made it 14-10.
• Covenant kept battling as a block by Barber cut the lead back to one at 17-16.
• The Scots came all the way back to tie the set at 20, but Berry got the critical points late to take set two narrowly 25-23. 

THIRD SET: 

• The Scots had two early service aces by Barber and Amber Snook as it jumped in front 6-2.
• Despite a Vikings run that cut the lead to one point, Covenant stayed in front at 18-13 with the help of a couple of blocks from Hannah Mathis and Kelsey Carman. 
• Berry didn't give Covenant the set easily as a service ace put it within one point of the Scots at 22-21.
• Mathis had two of the final three points, both kills, as Covenant stayed alive with a 25-22 win.

FOURTH SET: 

• Berry came out strong, jumping ahead 8-2.
• Covenant rallied as a block from Cali Sandhoff and Ella Bailey put the score at 11-10.
• The Vikings turned it on again as three kills by Bella Boston helped push their lead back to eight at 20-12.
• Berry extended its lead and closed the set and the match at 25-15.

GAME NOTES:

• Covenant moves to 3-19 all-time against Berry
•  Mathis led the Scots with 11 kills and three total blocks.
• Sandhoff posted 17 assists, eight digs, and seven kills. 
• Jennings tied her season-high in digs with 24.
• Carman and Kayley Shanfelt were each in double-figures in digs with 12 and 10 while both players also had seven kills.

 

Final:  Covenant 1, No. 22 Centre 3
Records: Covenant (4-8), No. 22 Centre (9-3)

FIRST SET:

• The Colonels had the advantage early on, jumping ahead 10-4 behind three kills from Syd Bietz.
• Covenant could not draw any closer than six points until back-to-back attack errors from Centre put the score at 22-17.
• The Scots only scored two more points the remainder of the set as they fell 25-19.

SECOND SET:

• The two teams went back-and-forth early on as a block from Mathis put the score at 12-11 with Centre narrowly on top.
• Three points in a row, including back-to-back service aces, gave Centre some breathing room at 17-13.
• Centre kept its foot on the pedal as consecutive kills by Bietz ended the set at 25-19.

THIRD SET: 

• Jennings posted back-to-back service aces early on as the Scots led 7-5.
• Centre came running back with a 7-1 run to put it on top 16-12.
• Behind three kills from Carman, Covenant immediately responded with a 9-1 run to go up 21-17.
• The Colonels didn't draw any closer than three points as the Scots took the set 25-21.

FOURTH SET: 

• Both teams were eager to get a lead, but a Mathis kill kept the score tied at 10.
• Centre had the first run of the set, a 7-1 run to put the score at 17-12.
• Two kills from Shanfelt lifted Covenant to a run of its own and put it down one point at 19-18.
• Covenant would tie the set at 21, but the Colonels took four of the last five points to end the set at 25-22 and the match. 

GAME NOTES:

• Covenant moves to 0-5 all-time against Centre.
• Mathis led Covenant with 12 kills and seven digs.
• Sandhoff delivered in three categories again with 11 digs, nine assists, and six kills.
• Jennings with 19 and Carman with 18 led the Scots in digs. 
•  Barber set a new career-high in assists with 14.

UP NEXT: Covenant begins conference play at Maryville on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

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