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Writer's pictureRaeden Selee

Volleyball drops home opener Trojans go 1-1 against Cal Poly and Alabama State

Troy volleyball was swept 3-0 by Cal Poly in its first home match of the season despite tight margins in each set.


The first set was arguably Troy’s best in the match, but four service errors, including one on Troy’s lone match point, resulted in a narrow 26-24 loss.


Despite the loss, outside hitter Amiah Butler put on a hitting clinic with a match-high 16 kills on an impressive .467 hitting percentage. Volleyball head coach Josh Lauer had nothing but praise for Butler after the match.


“She’s been playing really well; she attacked at a high level, passed well, and was really competitive and emotionally steady which is what good players do,”  Lauer said.


The Trojan’s hitting efficiency dipped significantly in the second set to .147 as they fell 26-24 for the second consecutive set.


Hitting woes continued in a sloppy third and final set as the Trojans hit .135 with seven errors. Cal Poly sealed the match 25-23 despite their eight errors and a .212 hitting percentage.


Tori Hester still managed to tally double-digit kills for her fifth consecutive match despite an inefficient day hitting. Hester ranks fourth in the nation in kills per set with 5.04.


Hester also recorded three blocks and two service aces in the loss.


“Every team that we play is going to key in on her, so her struggles offensively are because teams are absolutely all over her, and she’s still performing at a high level,” Lauer said.


The Trojans offense bounced back in a big way during a 3-0 sweep at Alabama State.


Troy snuffed the Hornets by improving its hitting percentage to .353 and crushing a season-high 13 aces.


Hester tallied 12 kills on an excellent hitting percentage and recorded five aces in a commanding performance.


Butler also tallied double-digit kills and added two aces.


Auburn transfer Jordan Sinness was electric from the service line with three aces and held serve for the duration of Troy’s 11-0 scoring run in the first set. Sinness also led the team in assists with 17.


The Trojans dominance against Alabama State is not a new phenomenon, as they are now 36-0 against the Hornets all-time.


The Trojans will play host to The Citadel to begin the Troy Invitational held inside  Trojan Arena at 6 p.m. on Sept. 12. Then on Sept. 14, Troy will face off against Kennesaw State in their final game of the invitational at 2 p.m.

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