Women's Volleyball Scottie Rodgers

No. 2 Appalachian State Earns 3-1 Win Over No. 6 Arkansas State in Sun Belt Volleyball Championship Semifinal

Box Score | Bracket | Championship Central

ATLANTA – Second-seeded Appalachian State scored a 3-1 victory (25-20, 21-25, 30-28, 25-23) over sixth-seeded Arkansas State in the first semifinal of the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Championship to advance to its first tournament final since 2015.
 
The Mountaineers move on to the championship match on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET at the GSU Sports Arena.
 
Appalachian State was led by Emma Longley’s double-double (18 kills, 10 digs), one of three Mountaineers with double-digit kills. Sophomore middle blocker Kara Spicer had 16 kills and freshman middle blocker Amy Giger contributed 15 kills. Senior setter Becky Porter posted a match-high 57 assists.
 
The two teams split the first frames with Arkansas State senior outside hitter Carlisa May showing why she is the three-time Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year with 12 kills through two sets. She tied the tournament record for a four-set match with 29 kills.
 
The third set was similar to the first two with 15 ties and seven lead changes. The momentum shifted in favor of the Mountaineers on a five-point run to grab a 17-15 lead, but Arkansas State rebounded from that run to even the match at 21-21. The battle continued into extras with Appalachian State taking back in control and ultimately the set at 30-28 on a block and sophomore middle blocker Kara Spicer.
 
The Red Wolves took a commanding 20-15 lead in the fourth set. The Mountaineers countered with seven of the next eight points to jump in front 22-21. Arkansas State won the next point, but Appalachian State got a kill from Longley and an attack error by Arkansas State to open a 24-22 edge. Following a Red Wolves point, Giger’s final kill clinched the set and the victory by a 25-23 count.
 
All remaining matches of the 2018 Sun Belt Volleyball Championship are set for live coverage on ESPN+. Follow the championship action via Twitter (@SunBelt) or live stats available on SunBeltSports.org.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
2018 SUN BELT VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, November 17 - Semifinals
Match 5: No. 2 Appalachian State 3, No. 6 Arkansas State 1
Match 6: No. 4 Little Rock vs. No. 1 Texas State (ESPN+), 5:00 p.m.
 
Sunday, November 18 - Final
Match 7: No. 2 Appalachian State vs. Match 6 Winner (ESPN+), 1:00 p.m.
 
All Times are Eastern and Subject to Change