BOONE, N.C. -- Behind a season-high 29 kills from
Emma Longley, Appalachian State volleyball defeated Arkansas State 3-2 (25-20, 25-19, 25-27, 25-27, 15-10) on Sunday afternoon inside the Holmes Center.
The victory marks the first time the Mountaineers (13-5, 5-1 SBC) have defeated the Red Wolves (10-9, 2-4 SBC).
Longley's 29 kills better her season-high of 19 set against Clemson on Sept. 1. It marks the seventh time in her career she has gone over the 20-kill mark in a contest. She hit .304 in the win, while adding five digs.
App State jumped out to a 2-0 lead after capturing Set 1 25-20 and taking the second set 25-19. Arkansas State rallied and won the third and fourth set by identical 27-25 scores, to set up a deciding frame.
Victoria Wilform got the Black and Gold on the board first in Set 5, but the Red Wolves came right back with a kill from Carlisa May to tie the score at 1-1. From there, App State scored eight straight points to open up a 9-1 advantage. The Red Wolves countered with five of the next six points, only to see the Mountaineers win the next three to take a 13-6 edge. Arkansas State pulledl to within four at 14-10, but block assists from
Daryn Armstrong and
Melissa McMath on match point clinched the victory for the Mountaineers.
Wilform tied her season-high with 16 kills, while McMath tallied 11.
Kara Spicer chipped in with nine kills and five total blocks (three solo, four assists).
Becky Porter recorded her team leading eighth double-double, tying her career-high with 59 assists and notching a new career-best in digs with 16.Â
Emma Reilly posted a career-high 28 digs, while
Sydney Farthing also reached double figures in digs with 11.
Appalachian State tallied 71 kills in the win, which is tied for the second most kills in a match this season.
The Mountaineers will return to the road next weekend for a pair of contests in Texas. The Black and Gold will battle West Division leader Texas State at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and UT Arlington on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
