PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — It's always ideal when a team is on point prior to classes beginning for the fall semester.
The volleyball program at Shawnee State certainly was on point Wednesday evening at Waller Gymnasium -- as Devan Spriggs' group overcame an early first-set deficit to make quick work of nonconference foe and fellow in-state program Wilberforce in straight sets, with Makaela Lovely becoming the 12th player to eclipse the 1,000-career assist mark in the straight-set (25-14, 25-11, 25-9) triumph to move to 2-1 in the 2025 season.
Both teams battled back and forth in the opening set, with Wilberforce taking an 11-10 edge midway through. However, Shawnee State would rally to score 15 of the next 19 points on the way to picking up a first set win.
Natalie Reida tallied a team-high three kills in the opening set, while Lovely, Brooke Bossert, Ava Jenkins and Megan Steele each posted a service ace as the Bears picked up the pace en route to a 25-14 first-set win.
Over the remainder of the match, Shawnee State never trailed -- as Shawnee State immediately jumped out to leads of 6-1 and 10-3 to begin the second set with Reida and Bree Hicks each posting three kills during the stretch, forcing Wilberforce to call a timeout.
Hicks, who had six of her nine overall kills in the second frame, then teamed with Reagan Lewis -- who posted two kills and a service ace -- to finish off the Bulldogs in the second set.
The third set saw Shawnee State start the set on a 10-2 run -- with a Lovely assist to Whytney Faulkner at the ninth volley of the third set giving the former her 1,000th assist. Hall had the hot hand during the 10-2 spurt, posting three kills during the stretch.
Reida and Hicks combined for six kills in the set while Camille McIntosh came on late to add two spikes herself as Shawnee State finished off Wilberforce with relative ease. The Bears led by as many as 15 points in the set on their way to getting the win.
Shawnee State was led offensively by Reida, who notched 11 overall kills on a .550 attack percentage, with Hicks, who hit .300 for the match, adding in nine spikes. Hall tallied seven with a hitting mark of .667.
Lovely had a team-high 18 assists in the match, and added in another team high with four service aces. Reagan Lewis also totaled 17 assists.
Megan Steele recorded double digit digs with 17 total in three sets.
Lovely reaches 1,000 career assists
With her 18 assists on Wednesday, Lovely now sits at 1,004 assists for her career -- becoming the 12th player in the history of the Shawnee State program to achieve the feat and joining fellow teammate Reagan Lewis in the club. Both seniors have combined for 2,362 assists over the course of their time at SSU.
NEXT UP
Shawnee State will travel to Milligan, Tenn. where they will play four games this upcoming weekend. The Bears are next in action on Friday where they will face Union Commonwealth (Ky.) at 2 p.m. and Faulkner University (Ala.) at 4:30. For live video, visit https://fan.hudl.com/usa/tn/milligan-college/organization/48593/milligan-college/watch?b=QnJvYWRjYXN0MjUyOTUxMg%3D%3D.
For more information on the Shawnee State volleyball program, visit https://ssubears.com/sports/womens-volleyball, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057197839907 or https://www.instagram.com/ssuvb/.
