Milligan College, Tenn. (August 26, 2011) --- The Milligan College volleyball team split on opening day inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse during the Milligan Mountain Madness tournament. The Buffaloes defeated former AAC foe UVA-Wise 3-0 in the first game, and fell 3-0 to Shorter University in the day's second game.

In the day's first game, Milligan rallied to win the first set 26-24, and never looked back as they took a 3-0 match victory. The Buffaloes bounced back from an early deficit to take the first set at set point. Milligan cruised to a 25-13 second set win, and then pulled away late to take a game clinching 25-17 victory.

Chelsea Spivey (Gate City, Va.) had 28 assists, and senior Morgan Rutledge (Kingsport, Tenn.) had 12 digs. Freshman Erin Pittman (Norris, Tenn.) recorded nine kills and eight digs. Rachel Renville (Broomfield, Colo.) recorded six kills in her debut on the Milligan squad, while Kendra Fiddler (Colorado Springs, Colo.) had four solo blocks.

In the day's second game, the Buffaloes fought hard, but came up short against Shorter 3-0. Milligan fell 25-11 in the first set, and saw the second set go to Shorter 25-20. The decisive third set went to Shorter by a score of 25-15.

Spivey recorded 20 assists and nine digs. Rutledge had 16 digs, while Renville had nine kills.

The Buffaloes return to action on Saturday, August 27, on the second day of action at the Milligan Mountain Madness. Milligan opens day two action at 9 a.m., against Freed-Hardeman, and will close the tournament against Union University at 1 p.m.