CARROLLTON, Ga. - Drama was not in short supply on Saturday in Winter Park, Fla., as the West Georgia Wolves rebounded with a pair of victories on the final day of the Rollins Invitational.  

West Georgia opened the day with a loss in the first set against the University of Mary, but then won six of the next eight sets, taking down Mary and the host Rollins Tars. 

UWG 3, UMary 1
In the first set of the day, the University of Mary came out with 12 kills at a .206 hitting percentage while taking advantage of eight UWG hitting errors. That was a recipe for a 25-16 loss for the Wolves. 

But the bounce-back was strong for the Wolves on Saturday morning in Florida despite a 14-11 lead early in the second set for UM. West Georgia responded with a four-point run and a five-point run in over the final 14 points to take a 25-19 victory. The two teams battled back-and-forth in the third set with the score tied at 18-18 and a crucial 2-1 lead on the line. The Wolves outscored UM 7-4 down the stretch to take a 25-22 victory and move ahead in the match. 

The fourth set saw UM on the cusp of forcing a fifth set, as the Marauders led 16-13 midway through the game. Head coach Kara Hellmann and the Wolves put their foot on the gas at that point, going on a 12-3 run to win the match. Kaylyn Buchanan served the final point with a service ace. Buchanan and Tierra White led the way with 11 and 12 kills, respectively in the match. Emilee Harris (18), Sydney Blackmon (14), and Autumn Mayes (11) each had double-digit digs while Mayes dished out 37 assists in the win. 

UWG 3, Rollins 2
The Wolves had a quick turnaround, but that seemed to keep momentum on the side of UWG volleyball as West Georgia jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Sunshine State program. In the first two sets, the Wolves committed just four total errors, including only one in the second set, to win 25-23 and 25-11. 

The second set was especially strong for the Wolves, as the offense clicked and the defense allowed Rollins just six kills with seven errors. It was time for Rollins to bounce back, though, as the Tars defended their home court with at 25-19 win in the third set and a 25-21 win in the fourth to force a fifth and deciding set. 

Neither team could take an advantage early, as the two teams were knotted at 6-6 early in the frame. Rollins took an 11-10 lead and it was the last score of the day for the Tars as West Georgia pounded out the final five points to take the match. 

White was stellar agianst the Tars, belting out 19 kills to lead the Wolves to a 6-2 start on the year. Sydney Blackmon entered rarified air with her first induction into the 30-dig club with 38 digs in the match. It was the first 30-dig club member for UWG since 2013 and the most digs in a single match since Melissa Holt had 40 against West Alabama on October 7, 2013. 

The Wolves will now have just one match in the next 10 days, taking on Emory on Thursday in Atlanta. On September 21, West Georgia will play at home for the first time this season, taking on the Auburn Montgomery Warhawks at The Coliseum that night at 6PM.