By Molly Johnson, Sports Information Assistant

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College women's volleyball team (4-4, 0-2 PBC) took on powerhouse Flagler College (6-5, 2-0 PBC) Friday Sept. 19 in the first Bobcat home game of the season. The Saints out-lasted the Bobcats 3-2.

"Tonight was a complete team effort," said head coach Gretchen Krumdieck. "We were well prepared and worked hard this week in practice. This team did not back down and we are using the lessons we learned tonight to push us forward in the conference schedule."

After dropping the first set 25-17, the Bobcats shocked the three-time Peach Belt Conference Champions taking the second set 25-23. The Bobcats went to the locker room carrying all the momentum, but it was not enough to carry them through the third set, losing 25-21. The entire match went back-and-forth with the 'Cats showing all kinds of drive in the fourth set and winning 25-15. The crowd roared throughout the fifth set, standing behind the Bobcats. Unfortunately, a late push put the Saints in front 15-13. 

Five Bobcats up front ended the match in double-digits with kills. Freshman Maggie Roper (Buford) led with 17 using both her right and left hand to hammer down the ball. Right side hitter Caroline Long (Roswell) had 12 and on multiple occasions showed her ability to get high above the net, putting her kills straight down at the defense.  Sophomores Miller Howard (Suwanee) and Blake Willoughby (Savannah) earned 11 kills each, using incredible judgment with their ball placement.

Setter Mollie Michel (Peachtree City) played all over the court garnering a double-double with 46 assists and 13 digs. She was just shy of a triple-double, adding seven kills to the Bobcats' cause. Krumdieck utilized her bench by rotating players into the back line to strengthen the Bobcats' defense against a strong front for the Saints. Including Michel, five Bobcats had double-digit digs. Defensive specialist Ella Anastasiades (Atlanta) showed consistent hustle, putting up 22 digs. Both sophomore Caroline Ham (Marietta) and freshman KatieRay (Cumming) stepped into the back line, tallying 15 digs each. Lindsay Holmes (Norcross) was not far behind with 14.

Although the Bobcats scratched and clawed through the entire match, their effort could not stop Sara Davis, who led the Saints with 20 kills. Genel Sturgeon and Ashley Lechleidner combined for 46 of Flagler's 95 digs with 20 and 26, respectively.

The Bobcats will be back in the Centennial Center Saturday, Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. to take on Armstrong State University.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at @GCBobcats on Twitter and Facebook for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.