MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Oct. 20, 2017) â€" The Milligan College volleyball team returned to the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse Friday night for their annual Dig for the Cure match against Appalachian Athletic Conference foe St. Andrews University. The Buffaloes dropped a close match in five sets (25-27, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, 17-15).

After winning the first four points of the first set, Milligan rallied all the way to point 25 taking the set on a 9-3 run. The winning rally was earned off a block by senior Marissa Langford and sophomore Julie Dockery giving the Buffs enough momentum to open up the second game with a strong lead. After 21 apiece, it was a tight race but Milligan pulled away with the victory (25-23). The Buffs earned the first four points of the third set. However, after 15 apiece the Knights took the lead and did not let up earning their first win in the third game (25-21).

The fourth game was one of the tightest races of the night. Both teams were toe-to-toe all the way until St. Andrews took the set on a 4-1 run (25-21). Furthermore, the Buffs came out ready to battle in the fifth and final set earning the first two points of the set and 11 kills in comparison to the Knights' nine. Again the teams were toe-to-toe with 14 apiece and 15 apiece but St. Andrews was capable of keeping the Buffs at point 15 and secured their AAC victory (17-15).

The Buffs were led by Langford with 17 kills. Following was fellow senior Alora Ricker and freshman Julia Codispoti with 12 apiece. Junior libero Alyssa Rupert led with 32 digs and Ricker added 23. Langford also had 19 digs. Sophomore Kellee Geren earned 45 assists, just eight short of her career high.

Up next, Milligan hosts another AAC matchup against Tennessee Wesleyan University for senior night on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 6:30 p.m. It is the last home match of the 2017 season.