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Messiah Takes North Carolina Split To Open 2008 Campaign
Senior Amy Mattie's experience was evident in Messiah's first two matches of the 2008 season.

Fayetteville, NC — The Messiah College volleyball team may have split a two-match decision at the Methodist University Labor Day Invitational, but don’t color head coach Judi Tobias content.

The Falcons opened the 2008 season 428 miles away from their own campus, defeating the host Monarchs 3-1 (25-21, 25-27, 29-27, 26-24) before falling to Columbia College 2-3 (25-27, 25-17, 25-21, 17-25, 8-15), a result that had the 13th-year program leader eager to return to the practice courts.

“It was the first matches of the season,” Tobias said when asked what good came of the lengthy trip. “It was a good opportunity to see what we would look like, and we were able to try some different people, move some people around. We played to where we are. We have to move forward quickly.”

Messiah (1-1) hit for negative in one set in each match, overcoming a -.079 attack percentage in the second set against Methodist (1-1) before responding for the four-stanza win. Senior Amy Mattie was the big hitter for the Falcons, notching 13 kills to go with 18 digs in the win. Freshman Cassy Diamond provided support with nine kills, while senior Meghan Morrissey got her final year as a collegian off to a stellar start with 32 digs.

An inopportune lack of offense eventually foiled the team against Columbia (2-1), however, as a -.083 attack percentage in the fifth and final set spelled the Falcons’ demise. Mattie was again the leader above the net, charting 14 kills on 39 attempts (.333 percentage). Junior Samantha Bradley came up with a match-high five assist blocks, while Morrissey (21 digs) and Mattie (10 digs) anchored the back row defense.

“It was a lot of work for us this weekend,” Tobias said. “We never got a comfortable flow going in either match, and that has to change. Volleyball is a sport where you have to know what the player next to you is doing and is going to do. We’ve got a lot of new faces on the team, and we’ve got to get more comfortable with each other.”

The Falcons will not have an extended period to accomplish such familiarity, as the team will host McDaniel College Wednesday in the team’s home opener. Match time is set for 7 p.m. in Brubaker Auditorium.