MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The University of West Georgia Volleyball team ended the Bobcat Classic on a high note with a 3-1 win over the Albany State Golden Rams on Saturday afternoon.
 
UWG (2-1, 0-0) had their cleanest hitting performance of the weekend as the Wolves put down 52 kills on a .268 hitting percentage, while holding Albany State (0-3, 0-0) to 34 kills on a .102 hitting percentage.
 
"We are pleased with our response today," said head coach Kara Hellmann. "To see us find our composure and steady out after set one today is encouraging. It was a great team effort and win, plus, our group is learning each time they step on the court."
 
Sarah Pipping put together her best collegiate performance of her career and got things started for West Georgia in the first set with two ferocious kills that led to a 10-4 run. The Golden Rams began to creep back into the set and later gained full control of the set as kills from their top hitters, Khamari Trotter and Sydney Melton gave Albany State a 19-17 lead. Kills from Pipping, Caitlin Frazee, and Sanai Young gave UWG a real chance to steal the set, but it wouldn't be enough as the Golden Rams went on to win, 25-22.
 
Set two had Pipping and Taylor Allen's name all over it as the Wolves fell down 13-10 before three straight aces from Allen completely flipped the momentum. Allen's aces sparked a massive 10-3 run, giving UWG a 20-16 lead late in the set. Albany State responded with three straight points before Pipping erupted for three more kills which fueled a 5-0 run, winning the set, 25-19 for West Georgia.
 
The momentum UWG gained at the end of the second set carried over to the third as the Wolves marched out to a 10-3 lead. Albany State prevented West Georgia from running away with the set, momentarily, by scoring three straight points until a kill from Zoë LaBreche sparked a 10-2 UWG run. With the score sitting at 20-8, the Wolves didn't let up as another kill from LaBreche won the set, 25-12.
 
After a dominating third set, West Georgia found themselves in a rhythm that seemed unbreakable. UWG never found themselves in trouble in the set as three points would be the closest Albany State would get. Pipping exploded for seven kills in the set, leading to a 25-16 set win to close the Golden Rams out, 3-1.
 
Pipping led the Wolves with a career-high 19 kills on a .333 hitting percentage, while Allen added a career-high five service aces, five blocks, and six kills.
 
"We will get back in the practice gym this week, and look forward to hosting our tournament this weekend and getting to play in the Coliseum for the first time this season," Hellmann concluded.
 
West Georgia will be back in action and make their long-awaited return to the Coliseum on Friday when they open up the UWG 2023 Tournament, with matchups against Concord and Emory & Henry at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.