MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Oct. 23, 2015) â€" Emilee Linkous led both teams with a game-high 14 kills, and Charlie Bateman came up big at the end of each of the final three sets, all in an effort to help the Milligan College volleyball team to a 3-1 (20-25, 25-23, 25-13, 25-18) win over Reinhardt University Friday night at Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.
 
With the regular season ending two weeks from Saturday, the Buffaloes are peaking at the right time, using the victory to grab their fifth straight win and sixth straight at home.
 
With the victory, Milligan (16-10, 11-4 AAC) matched its longest winning streak since 2012 when it won five straight and six at home in September. This time around, the Buffaloes have not lost since dropping two in a tri-match on Oct. 10, and have won seven of their last nine opportunities. Additionally, Milligan earned a season split with Reinhardt (9-17, 5-12 AAC) after the Eagles came back from down 2-1 to defeat the Buffs back on Sept. 11.
 
Friday night was a little bit of payback for the Buffs, who engineered a comeback of their own to win on their home floor.
 
With Milligan trailing 17-11 in the second set and on the verge of going down two sets to none, the Buffs used an 8-2 run featuring three kills by Marissa Langford and two from Linkous to get within one at 19-18, setting up a thrilling end to the frame that would swing the momentum back into Milligan's favor. With the score tied at 21 thanks to a kill from Jenna Headrick, a kill from Samantha Buinius would tie it at 22 before another kill, this time from Bateman, tied it again at 23. Bateman then followed with a solo block and an assisted block with Jessica Davenport to take the set 25-23.
 
Milligan's attackers also came up big in the second set as the Buffs finished with 17 kills in the frame, five of which came from Samantha Bruinius, and four of which came from both Headrick and Langford. Davenport made 11 assists.
 
With the Buffs leading 9-8 in the third set, they used a 9-0 run to get ahead by 10, and would not let up, going on to take the set at 25-13 in a dominating fashion. Milligan was again strong offensively, finishing with 15 kills in the set, five of which came from Langford and four from both Linkous and Headrick. Davenport again dished 11 helpers, while Bateman finished the set strong with two kills on the Buffs final three points, sandwiched around an ace from Jadin Foster.
 
In the final set, Milligan used a 9-1 run to turn an 11-9 deficit into an 18-12 advantage thanks to six kills from Linkous, including four straight to begin the run, two kills from Headrick, and an assisted block from both Linkous and Headrick. The Lady Eagles did fight back and got to within five at 23-18 before another kill from Bateman and another from Bruinius, with an assist to Bateman, finished it off at 25-18.
 
Many Buffs padded the stat sheet as Linkous' 14 kills were a career high in four-set matches. Langford and Headrick both added 12 kills, while Bruinius had 11, Bateman had five, and Davenport had four. Davenport also dished out 43 assists, her career-high in four-setters, and made 15 digs for her 17th double-double of the season.
 
Additionally, Grace Ann Moorhouse and Foster also chipped in defensively with 13 and 11 digs respectively, while Bateman and Linkous each made three blocks, Headrick had two, and Davenport, Langford and Linkous each had two service aces.
 
The Buffs began the night 1.5 games behind second-place Union College and 2.5 behind the AAC leader, Bryan College, whom the Buffs still get a chance to battle one time each at home, where they have been on a roll.
 
Next up, Milligan continues its home stand Saturday, Oct. 24, to take on the Lady Bears of Truett-McConnell College. Match time is set for 11 a.m.