Saturday, September 14
Statesboro, GA
1:00 p.m.
Georgia Southern University
7-1,0-0Sun Belt
3
vs
0
Furman
4-4,0-0SoCon
1
2
3
F
Furman
21
17
19
0
Ga. Southern
25
25
25
3
Photo by: AJ Henderson - Georgia Southern Athletics
Sale’s Big Afternoon Helps Volleyball to Sweep of Furman
9/14/2024 3:34:00 PM | Volleyball
Sophomore records 11 kills and five total blocks to push the Eagles to perfect weekend
STATESBORO- Georgia Southern volleyball (7-1) extended its win streak to six and consecutive sets win streak to 10 after rolling over Furman (4-4), hitting above .300 in two of the three sets.
"We were pretty dialed in for most of that match," head coach Chad Willis said. "We had some unforced errors here or there, but I thought the team did a good job on the quick turnaround from last night. We pressured them pretty well from the service line offensively, we were in a groove. Our hitters did a great job. Overall, it was a great team win."
Similar to most of the sets during the weekend, the Eagles battled the Paladins early in set one before pulling away late. Staving off a 3-0 run at set point, Paige Powers sent home a kill to give set one to the home team at 25-21.
GS hit a scorching .357 (19-4-42) in the first set.
The offense - and defense - did not relent in the second frame. Holding the Paladins to just eight kills and an .027 hitting percentage, the Eagles used an early 6-0 run and emerged victorious at 25-17 after an attack error by Furman.
The Eagles would not be denied in the third set, running away early. Maggie Sale had three kills to put GS up 14-8, and it was more of the same after. At set point, Jillian Gray sent the 'Dins home with the Eagles winning 25-19 and the match 3-0.
The Eagles hit .319 for the match, holding the Paladins to a .148 mark, recording eight total blocks in the win.
Sale shined for GS, recording 11 kills on 23 swings and just three errors to hit .248. She also added a season-high five blocks.
"We came out with the mindset of protecting Hanner this weekend," Sale said. "We were gonna do whatever it took to protect Hanner. Finishing this weekend 3-0 and sweeping every set proved that Hanner was our house."
Gray (11) and Reagan Barth (11) joined her in double figures, continuing their strong two-pronged attack in the early going of 2024. Gray recorded 12 digs to snag another double-double, with Ashlyn Lovett only outpacing her with 17. Lovett moved past Alexis Dankulic for third on the all-time digs list.
Kirsten Barrett notched 39 assists, six digs and two kills in the win.
Willis named his all-tournament team for the weekend:
MVP - Barrett (11.44 assists/set, 2.0 digs/set)
Sale - 2.57 kills/set, 1.14 blocks/set, .311 hitting%
Barth - 3.33 kills/set, 3.41 digs/set, .241 hitting%
The Eagles return home for the Bash in the Boro beginning on Thursday against Alabama State.
"We were pretty dialed in for most of that match," head coach Chad Willis said. "We had some unforced errors here or there, but I thought the team did a good job on the quick turnaround from last night. We pressured them pretty well from the service line offensively, we were in a groove. Our hitters did a great job. Overall, it was a great team win."
Similar to most of the sets during the weekend, the Eagles battled the Paladins early in set one before pulling away late. Staving off a 3-0 run at set point, Paige Powers sent home a kill to give set one to the home team at 25-21.
GS hit a scorching .357 (19-4-42) in the first set.
The offense - and defense - did not relent in the second frame. Holding the Paladins to just eight kills and an .027 hitting percentage, the Eagles used an early 6-0 run and emerged victorious at 25-17 after an attack error by Furman.
The Eagles would not be denied in the third set, running away early. Maggie Sale had three kills to put GS up 14-8, and it was more of the same after. At set point, Jillian Gray sent the 'Dins home with the Eagles winning 25-19 and the match 3-0.
The Eagles hit .319 for the match, holding the Paladins to a .148 mark, recording eight total blocks in the win.
Sale shined for GS, recording 11 kills on 23 swings and just three errors to hit .248. She also added a season-high five blocks.
"We came out with the mindset of protecting Hanner this weekend," Sale said. "We were gonna do whatever it took to protect Hanner. Finishing this weekend 3-0 and sweeping every set proved that Hanner was our house."
Gray (11) and Reagan Barth (11) joined her in double figures, continuing their strong two-pronged attack in the early going of 2024. Gray recorded 12 digs to snag another double-double, with Ashlyn Lovett only outpacing her with 17. Lovett moved past Alexis Dankulic for third on the all-time digs list.
Kirsten Barrett notched 39 assists, six digs and two kills in the win.
Willis named his all-tournament team for the weekend:
MVP - Barrett (11.44 assists/set, 2.0 digs/set)
Sale - 2.57 kills/set, 1.14 blocks/set, .311 hitting%
Barth - 3.33 kills/set, 3.41 digs/set, .241 hitting%
The Eagles return home for the Bash in the Boro beginning on Thursday against Alabama State.
Team Stats
Furman
GS
Kills
30
53
Errors
13
15
Attempts
115
119
Hitting %
.148
.319
Points
38.0
65.0
Assists
26
47
Aces
2
4
Blocks
6
8
Game Leaders
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
S
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballClay Helton Media Availability: National Signing Day (12/3/25)
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