Lady Senators finish 3-1 in Spartanburg

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The Walters State volleyball team opened its season with a four-match tournament over the weekend at Spartanburg Methodist College and walked away with a 3-1 record with the only loss coming to a Division I school.

The Lady Senators swept all three of their wins, whitewashing College of Lake County in the season opener on Friday before barreling through Cape Fear and host Spartanburg Methodist on Saturday evening. The lone blemish came at the hands of 16th-ranked Wallace State-Hanceville, a perennial powerhouse in the NJCAA ranks.

In Friday's opener, Walters State claimed a 25-12, 25-17 and 25-19 victory over Lake County, recording 39 kills in the contest. Olivia Oxendine led the way with 14 kills against just one error in the win, while Courtney Dotson added 8 kills, Alaysia McGhee had 5 kills and Jania Hill added 4 kills in the victory.

Dotson also notched 3 of the team's 5 service aces, while Alexis Wakefield had a team-high 12 digs with Hill recording 10 in the win. Amanda Singleton led the team with 12 assists, while Taylor Tigue had 9 and Dotson dissed out 8.

In the nightcap of the opening day, the Lady Senators suffered a straight-set loss to Wallace State, falling 27-25, 25-18 and 34-32. Dotson ripped 10 kills and Oxendine added 9 in the contest, while Wakefield added 29 digs, Tigue had 16 digs and Dotson totaled 10 for her double-double in the match. Tigue had 16 assists and Singleton added 10 in the defeat.

Jordan Hollis swatted 17 kills and Diamond Jones had 12 in the win for the Lions.

In Saturday's opener, the Lady Senators pulled out a 25-14, 25-20 and 25-21 sweep of Cape Fear behind 11 kills from Oxendine, 10 from Hill and 9 from Dotson.

Wakefield tallied 15 digs, while Dotson added 11 and Hill had 10 for her first career double-double, and Tigue dished out 19 assists and Singleton totaled 16 in the win.

In the weekend finale, Walters State swept the homestanding Lady Pioneers by the scores of 25-19, 25-21 and 25-17. Hill smacked 13 kills and Dotson added 8 in the win, while Singleton led the team with 19 assists and Tigue added a dozen. Singleton also led the way in digs with 15 for a double-double, while Hill added 12 for her second double-double of the day. Dotson and Wakefield both had 11 digs in the win.

Walters State will open its home schedule on Wednesday with a match against Bryan College's junior varsity club. First serve inside 'Z' Buda Gymnasium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.