Reinhardt Claws its Way to Tri-Match Sweep
September 9, 2018
By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media
WALESKA, Ga. – Reinhardt volleyball completed a stunning comeback against Faulkner (Ala.) in the deciding fifth set, as the team was down, 14-11, in the final outing of a tri-match Saturday at the Brown Athletic Center against Brenau (Ga.) and the Eagles from Alabama.
The hometown Eagles are now 11-4 and 2-0 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference after sweeping their pair of matches against the Golden Tigers (3-0; 25-15, 25-11, 25-21) and Faulkner (3-2; 21-25, 25-20, 25-17, 22-25, 16-14).
"Today turned out to be two wins in the win column, but a really rough day for us having our best offensive player go down to an ankle injury in the first set of the second match (Savannah Davis)," head coach Brian Goodhind said. "Our thoughts are with her right now, but she's as strong mentally as she is physically, with an incredibly strong faith. I know she's keeping her thoughts positive. Our match against Brenau went well – and we were able to get through in three – but we definitely came out flat and didn't play with high energy. Our match against Faulkner completely changed when Savannah went down; it definitely affected the girls emotionally to see a teammate go down… and we went down set one. The girls responded well in set two and three, but as I said before, Faulkner is the scrappiest team I've ever coached against; they just keep coming and forced a set five. I love that school… They play with so much passion; for one another and for God. I feel like they give other teams lessons, on the court, with how to play with heart and to never quit.
"Tessa Colden and Cheetara Bing carried the load offensively for us. Set five will be huge for us down the road, down, 14-11, and coming back to win, 16-14. I'm so proud of how the girls responded to that type of adversity and just refused to lose. Erinn Marroquin stepped up huge at the service line at 14-12, and we never gave up serve. Cheetara Bing had an incredible block at 15-14 to win the match. Our assistant, Charles Shearer, did a great job with our block today. He calls our defensive blocking system and he made a great call on that last play. Thank you to the fans and congrats to Jemi Folkes (2020) – who signed her LOI to join our Eagle family right before the last match."
The Eagles moved quickly through the first two sets against Brenau, but the Golden Tigers showed good fight in the third stanza as they pushed Reinhardt on the verge of extending the match. A 16-9 advantage was cut down to two as the visitors claimed five-consecutive points. A big 6-0 run from the home squad (23-16) was takin in stride by Brenau as the club got back within a trio of points at 23-20.
That would be the closest the Golden Tigers would get the rest of the way after Ashley Hudson clinched the conference clash with a kill.
Reinhardt Leading Scorers
Kills: Savanna Davis (11), Cheetara Bing (9), Ashley Hudson (6)
Aces: Angel Cornista (3), Tessa Colden (2)
Blocks: Brianna Baez (4), Cheetara Bing (3), Isabelle Diaz (3)
Assists: Carlee Baxter (23), Erinn Marroquin (14), Sophia Graziano (2)
Digs: Angel Cornista (11), Tessa Colden (8), Carlee Baxter (5)
For second time in nearly a week, Goodhind's Eagles took out Faulkner on the courts, but this time was as little different than their meeting in the Life (Ga.) Tournament on Aug. 31 when Reinhardt swept, 3-0.
Faulkner was able to finish off their hosts in the first set and take advantage of the emotional rollercoaster due to the aforementioned Eagle injury. Reinhardt was able to refocus and push itself to a 2-1 lead in the tilt, but Faulkner responded like they have all season, claiming the fourth set and storming out to a big lead in the fifth-and-final game.
The road Eagles were on the verge of victory until one of the greatest comebacks in the Goodhind regime took place on Reinhardt's home floor.
Five-straight points culminating in a block. Victory.
Reinhardt Leading Scorers
Kills: Cheetara Bing (18), Tessa Colden (16), Ashley Hudson (8)
Aces: Erinn Marroquin (2), Tessa Colden (1), Brianna Baez (1)
Blocks: Shadaisha Summerall (5), Brianna Baez (3), Tessa Colden (2)
Assists: Carlee Baxter (28), Erinn Marroquin (27), Angel Cornista (4)
Digs: Angel Cornista (9), Tessa Colden (7), Kelley Adkins (5)
Conference play at home continues Tuesday night with a clash against Allen (S.C.).
First serve is at 6:30 p.m.
For up-to-the-minute Eagles sports news, follow Reinhardt Athletics on Facebook, @RU_Eagles on Twitter and @ru_eagles on Instagram.
For more information on Reinhardt Volleyball, please click here.
WALESKA, Ga. – Reinhardt volleyball completed a stunning comeback against Faulkner (Ala.) in the deciding fifth set, as the team was down, 14-11, in the final outing of a tri-match Saturday at the Brown Athletic Center against Brenau (Ga.) and the Eagles from Alabama.
The hometown Eagles are now 11-4 and 2-0 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference after sweeping their pair of matches against the Golden Tigers (3-0; 25-15, 25-11, 25-21) and Faulkner (3-2; 21-25, 25-20, 25-17, 22-25, 16-14).
"Today turned out to be two wins in the win column, but a really rough day for us having our best offensive player go down to an ankle injury in the first set of the second match (Savannah Davis)," head coach Brian Goodhind said. "Our thoughts are with her right now, but she's as strong mentally as she is physically, with an incredibly strong faith. I know she's keeping her thoughts positive. Our match against Brenau went well – and we were able to get through in three – but we definitely came out flat and didn't play with high energy. Our match against Faulkner completely changed when Savannah went down; it definitely affected the girls emotionally to see a teammate go down… and we went down set one. The girls responded well in set two and three, but as I said before, Faulkner is the scrappiest team I've ever coached against; they just keep coming and forced a set five. I love that school… They play with so much passion; for one another and for God. I feel like they give other teams lessons, on the court, with how to play with heart and to never quit.
"Tessa Colden and Cheetara Bing carried the load offensively for us. Set five will be huge for us down the road, down, 14-11, and coming back to win, 16-14. I'm so proud of how the girls responded to that type of adversity and just refused to lose. Erinn Marroquin stepped up huge at the service line at 14-12, and we never gave up serve. Cheetara Bing had an incredible block at 15-14 to win the match. Our assistant, Charles Shearer, did a great job with our block today. He calls our defensive blocking system and he made a great call on that last play. Thank you to the fans and congrats to Jemi Folkes (2020) – who signed her LOI to join our Eagle family right before the last match."
The Eagles moved quickly through the first two sets against Brenau, but the Golden Tigers showed good fight in the third stanza as they pushed Reinhardt on the verge of extending the match. A 16-9 advantage was cut down to two as the visitors claimed five-consecutive points. A big 6-0 run from the home squad (23-16) was takin in stride by Brenau as the club got back within a trio of points at 23-20.
That would be the closest the Golden Tigers would get the rest of the way after Ashley Hudson clinched the conference clash with a kill.
Reinhardt Leading Scorers
Kills: Savanna Davis (11), Cheetara Bing (9), Ashley Hudson (6)
Aces: Angel Cornista (3), Tessa Colden (2)
Blocks: Brianna Baez (4), Cheetara Bing (3), Isabelle Diaz (3)
Assists: Carlee Baxter (23), Erinn Marroquin (14), Sophia Graziano (2)
Digs: Angel Cornista (11), Tessa Colden (8), Carlee Baxter (5)
For second time in nearly a week, Goodhind's Eagles took out Faulkner on the courts, but this time was as little different than their meeting in the Life (Ga.) Tournament on Aug. 31 when Reinhardt swept, 3-0.
Faulkner was able to finish off their hosts in the first set and take advantage of the emotional rollercoaster due to the aforementioned Eagle injury. Reinhardt was able to refocus and push itself to a 2-1 lead in the tilt, but Faulkner responded like they have all season, claiming the fourth set and storming out to a big lead in the fifth-and-final game.
The road Eagles were on the verge of victory until one of the greatest comebacks in the Goodhind regime took place on Reinhardt's home floor.
Five-straight points culminating in a block. Victory.
Reinhardt Leading Scorers
Kills: Cheetara Bing (18), Tessa Colden (16), Ashley Hudson (8)
Aces: Erinn Marroquin (2), Tessa Colden (1), Brianna Baez (1)
Blocks: Shadaisha Summerall (5), Brianna Baez (3), Tessa Colden (2)
Assists: Carlee Baxter (28), Erinn Marroquin (27), Angel Cornista (4)
Digs: Angel Cornista (9), Tessa Colden (7), Kelley Adkins (5)
Conference play at home continues Tuesday night with a clash against Allen (S.C.).
First serve is at 6:30 p.m.
For up-to-the-minute Eagles sports news, follow Reinhardt Athletics on Facebook, @RU_Eagles on Twitter and @ru_eagles on Instagram.
For more information on Reinhardt Volleyball, please click here.