Walters State scored 15 of the first 18 points against Cleveland State on Tuesday evening and went on from there as they took down the Cougars, 3-1 (25-15, 22-25, 25-19, 25-15).
With the win, Walters State improved to 6-2 on the season and 2-1 in Region VII play.
The match opened up a big week for the Lady Senators as they play six matches, including four over the weekend.
"I thought our veteran players played well tonight," Walters State coach Megan Blaylock said. "I think our freshmen need to keep working and learning so that they can continue to improve. It was good to come out as strong as we did. We just have to keep working."
Walters State was all over Cleveland State to start the match as they scored the first five points. Hannah Freeman had an ace during the run.
Cleveland State finally got on the board with a point, but the Lady Senators scored the next five points as Jordan Moore had a kill, Maddie Rockrohr a block and Freeman a kill. The Lady Senators kept it on from there with a block from Takiya Curry, a kill from Rockrohr and then an ace from Rockrohr that made it 17-4.
Cleveland State went on a run down the stretch, but Mackenzie Sweigart closed the set out at 25-15.
In the second set, Blaylock rotated her freshmen into the match as the Lady Senators went back-and-forth for the majority of the set. The two teams were tied at eight, nine, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 18 before Cleveland State rallied to sneak past Walters State and take the set.
In the third set, Walters State got back on track as they scored the first four points of the set and then broke out to a 12-6 lead thanks to a couple kills from Sweigart, Moore and Sidney Keck. The lead grew to 21-11, and Walters State was able to hold off a late Cleveland State run as Curry had back-to-back kills.
Keck closed the set out with a kill at 25-19.
Like sets one and three, Walters State jumped out early in the fourth and final set and never let Cleveland State in it. The Lady Senators led 8-2 and then 16-9 after a kill from Moore. The Lady Senators didn't allow a late Cleveland State run this time around as they scored the final three points of the set to take it, 25-15.
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