Kingsport, Tenn. (Nov. 10, 2010) --- The Milligan College Lady Buffs volleyball team opened up the 2010 Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament with a 3-0 victory over Tennessee Wesleyan on Wednesday night inside Meadow View Conference and Convention Center in Kingsport, Tenn.

Milligan jumped out early as they took the first set by a score of 25-14. The Lady Buffs kept the pressure on in the second set as they won 25-17. In the decisive third set, Milligan jumped out to an early lead and held on to a 25-13 set victory.

Chelsea Spivey (Gate City, Va.) recorded 23 assists, 10 digs and two aces in the game. Former Dobyns-Bennett standout Morgan Rutledge (Kingsport, Tenn.) led the Lady Buffs in digs with 18. Seniors Bianca Burnett (Cookeville, Tenn.) and Emilee Hale (Morristown, Tenn.) had nine and seven kills, respectively. Erin Biddle (Newport, Tenn.) added two service aces.

“It is a great win,” Head Coach Doneva Bays said. “Overall, our whole team stepped up. Our goal tonight was to come in and terminate balls, and I think we did that in the beginning. It was also nice to get our whole bench some playing time this late in the season.”

The win moves Milligan to 1-0 in pool play. The Lady Buffs return to pool play action on Thursday, Nov. 11, when they face Reinhardt University and top-seeded Montreat College. The games are set for 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively.