Barrage of Service Aces Fuel Win Against Coastal Georgia

MILLIGAN, Tenn. – The No. 12 Trojans (6-2) finished play in the Milligan Mountain Madness Tournament, splitting their final two matches. 

Taylor tallied a remarkable 24 service aces throughout the day, led by six from Abi Powers and five from Jen Springer. Jaylynn Dunsmore continued her dominant performance at the Milligan Mountain Madness Tournament, totaling a team-high 32 kills while contributing four blocks and three digs. 

TU began the day with a thrilling four-set victory over Coastal Georgia (2-2), in which all but one set was decided by three or fewer points.   

The Trojans raced out to a 5-1 lead in the second set before the Mariners tied it up at ten, and after a bit of back-and-forth play, it became a match of runs. Trailing 17-16, Taylor scored four-straight for a 20-17 lead before Coastal Georgia rattled off five points to take a 22-20 edge. A combined block from Dunsmore and Reagan Kleiman sparked a five-point run to take the second set 25-22. 

Taylor cruised to a set three win by hitting .357 led by five kills from Sarah Scott. 

Coastal Georgia looked set to take the match to the distance with a 16-12 lead in the fourth set. Scott continued to be productive on her way to 15 kills in the match as the Trojans started their comeback. With the set tied at 22, two kills put TU on the edge of victory before an attacking error capped the set and match. 

Head Coach Erin Luthy nabbed her 150th victory during her eight seasons at the helm at TU. 

Taylor continued its run of close sets in its final match of the Milligan Madness Tournament against Southeastern (3-1). No set was decided by more than four points, with a pair of them requiring more than 25 for a victory. 

The Fire took the opener 25-21, fueled by a 10-2 run in the middle of the set. 

TU took a hard-fought second set 27-25, holding off a rally and scoring the final three points on kills by Kleiman and Gracie Conway sandwiched by a service ace from Lindsay Springer.

Lindsay Springer and Dunsmore were honored on the All-Tournament Team as Taylor was tied at the top of the standings with Southeast and RV Blue Mountain Christian (4-1).

The Trojans dropped the final two sets, which halted their six-game winning streak. They will look to get back into the win column when Crossroads League action begins in their next match against RV Bethel (8-0) on Wednesday, September 6, on the road in Mishawaka, Indiana.