WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-- The Madonna University Volleyball team completed a sweep at the Keiser University Volleyball Invitational Presented by the Palm Beach County Sport Commission Thursday with a pair of 3-0 victories over Milligan University (Tenn.) and Southeastern University (Fla.).

Game 1 vs Milligan, W 3-0

HOW IT HAPPENED

In all three sets, Madonna raced to a hot start first led by DJ Sargent in the first set from Kacie Stoneburner as the Crusaders rattled off to a 6-1 run in the early morning. Both teams exchanged jabs as Milligan closed the gap to five points but it was Kelly again who started a solid three-point run to be the first to 15. In the set's final moments, a finishing streak of kills kicked off by Brigette Vanderham sealed the win 25-14.

The Buffaloes stampeded out to a 5-1 start in the second before Kelly's kill from Stoneburner finally snapped the streak as both Kelly and Emily Stewart continued to pour more points into Madonna's column for a one-point lead at 6-5. Later in the set, Madonna hit two streaks of five points to suffocate any chance Milligan had at an attempt to steal the set as the Crusaders won 25-13.

In the final set, the Crusaders and Buffaloes were knotted through the entire match. Three Milligan attacking errors in a row aided Madonna's efforts before Sargent, Stoneburner, and Kelly threw in a three-point surge to inflate the lead to seven. Milligan clawed back to within five at one point but back-to-back kills by Stoneburner gave Madonna a slight edge as the Buffaloes got within three points at 21-18 going into a MU timeout. 

Miller, Kelly twice, and a service ace from Katie Engelhardt thwarted the Milligan offensive once and for all. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

The Crusaders relied heavily on assists coming form Stoneburner and Dawson who each tacked 20 apiece. Kelly, Stoneburner, and Miller were the game's top three kill leaders with 17, 12, and 10, respectively. 


Game 2 vs Southeastern, W 3-0

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Crusaders jumped out to an early 8-1 lead in the first. Kelly, Stoneburner, and Jordyn Dawson's service aces aided the early buffer before the Fire fanned back briefly as Miller, Vanderham, and Stewart put away the quick first frame.
Madonna stared at a 3-0 deficit early in the second as Southeastern spotted the Crusaders a single point on a ball handing error. The Fire raged on, holding the lead briefly as the Crusaders started to put out the flames behind Stewart and Stoneburner. An attacking error by SEU allowed MU to tie things up at 12-12. Things proceeded to get easier for Madonna, finishing the set on the back of Kelly's authoritative kill for the win.

Kelly led a 5-2 run to start the third set for Madonna before Southeastern started a sweep of their own. Stoneburner and Vanderham were able to keep the Fire at bay for the edge heading into the middle part of the set. With the third set on the line, Miller and a few errors by SEU gave the Crusaders the win and the fourth total win of the invite. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Stoneburner was once again the kill leader with 13. Miller was right behind with 12. Dawson and Stoneburner both heated up on the assists with 19 and 16, respectively. 

UP NEXT

Madonna will return home for the 2021 Julie Martin Invitational at the Alliance Catholic Credit Union Arena at the Performing Arts, Academics, and Athletics Center on Friday, August 22 and Saturday, August 30. 

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