MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Aug. 25, 2017) â€" Junior Alyssa Rupert tallied a tournament high 38 digs on day one of the 10th annual Milligan College Mountain Madness volleyball tournament as the Buffs won one and lost one to begin the 2017 season. Milligan lost its opening match to Point Park University, 3-1 (24-26, 25-19, 25-18, 25-23) before rebounding for a win in its second match against Emory & Henry College, 3-0 (25-11, 25-13, 25-22).
 
Rupert, who moved to Milligan's libero spot during the offseason, recorded a career high 23 digs in the opening match of the season but saw the Buffs fall short. Milligan jumped out to a game lead by closing the first frame on a 4-1 run to win it 26-24. Rupert was one of the keys defensively while seniors Alora Ricker and Marissa Langford tallied kills in the final stretch to help Milligan take the early lead.
 
Point Park then took the next three sets, thanks mostly to hitters Ashley Taylor and Erica Gumz who had 19 and 13 kills respectively.
 
In the second match of the day, Milligan got things rolling early and never looked back. Kills by Langford, Ricker and freshman Julia Codispoti helped Milligan jump out to a 16-7 lead and it only got better from there as the Buffs then finished the first set on a 9-3 run. It was more of the same in sets two and three as Milligan won easily for its first victory of the season.
 
In addition to Rupert's high dig mark, sophomore setter Kellee Geren, the reigning Appalachian Athletic Conference setter of the year, finished with 64 assists across the two matches. Langford finished with 26 kills while Dockery had 14 kills.
 
Milligan will return to Steve Lacy Fieldhouse on Saturday to finish up the Mountain Madness tourney. First up, the Buffs will face Lindenwood at 9 a.m., followed by Middle Georgia State at 1 p.m.