Greenville, Tenn. – The Edinboro volleyball team split two games at the Pioneer Classic Saturday inside Pioneer Areana.
 
The Scots scored a 3-0 sweep of King before falling 3-2 to host Tusculum in the nightcap.
 
In the opening set against King, Edinboro opened with a 2-0 lead, highlighted by a service ace from Laney Burns, before the Tornados responded to tie the score at 3-3. King went on a 5-0 run to take a 6-3 lead, featuring two consecutive service aces by Chloe Clayton. 
 
The Fighting Scots regained momentum with a 3-0 stretch, capped by a service ace from Klaresajane Sivas, leveling the score at 6-6. Makayla Neelands delivered a strong performance late in the set, contributing five points in a 9-0 run to close out the set 25-14 for Edinboro, including two kills and a service ace.
 
The Tornados gained early momentum with a 5-0 run, capitalizing on attack errors by the Scots, to lead 7-2 early in set two. Maggie Koster and Neelands sparked a comeback, with consecutive kills leveling the score at 10-10.  A strong 6-0 run by the Fighting Scots to take a 17-13 advantage. The set remained close as Edinboro maintained composure, with Reilly Parent delivering the final kill to secure a 25-23 victory.
 
The Fighting Scots started strong with a 4-0 run, highlighted by two service aces from Burns to open the third set. Neelands added a kill and a service ace extending Edinboro's lead to 7-1. Edinboro maintained momentum with a 6-0 surge pushing the score to 17-8. Parent and Emma Hiott contributed key kills to help the Scots close out the set 25-15.
 
Neelands  led the offense with 14 kill, a .429 hitting percentage and four service aces. Parent added 12 kills and 10 digs. Burns triggered the offense with 23 assists to go with four aces.Against the Pioneers, Edinboro took an early 7-4 lead, aided by kills from Koster and Neelands. The Pioneers responded with a 4-0 run, gaining a 16-12 advantage after several attack errors from the Fighting Scots. Neelands sparked a comeback for the Scots, tying the score at 19-19 with a kill followed by a service ace from Burns. Tusculum edged out a 25-22 victory after a service ace from Solene Roussel and an attack error by the Scots. 
 
In the second, the Pioneers capitalized on early errors from Edinboro to take a 2-0 lead. Parent tied the score at 3-3 with her second kill, assisted by Burns. A key service ace from Mackenzie Land at 11-9 helped Tusculum extend their lead to 14-9 during a 5-0 run. The Fighting Scots charged back with a 5-1 run, including a kill and a service ace by Grace Petro, narrowing the gap to 15-13. With the score tied at 19-19, Tusculum regained control as Land and Jordyn Roderick delivered critical kills to close the set 25-22.
 
In the third set, the Pioneers opened with a strong 6-0 run, featuring two service aces by Land and blocks from Roderick and Breana Pelbath.  Edinboro responded with a 5-1 run, highlighted by kills from Hiott and Parent, narrowing the deficit to 7-5. Stayer's service ace tied the score at 12-12, and Neelands followed with a kill to give the Scots a 13-12 lead. With the score tied at 20, Parent's service ace initiated a decisive 5-1 run, culminating in a kill by Neelands to secure the set 25-21 for Edinboro. 
 
The Scots took an early lead with a kill by Neelands, followed by an attack error from Land that put Edinboro up 3-1 in the fourth set. Burns delivered a service ace extending the lead to 11-6.  The Pioneers mounted a comeback with a service ace from Victoria Church, closing the gap to 11-10. Parent scored a crucial kill, giving Edinboro a 24-23 lead, before sealing the set 25-23 with an attack error by the Pioneers.
 
In the fifth set, the Scots opened the set with a kill from Neelands, taking an early 1-0 lead. Tusculum responded, scoring four of the next six points, including kills from Pelbath and Roderick, moving ahead 4-2.  The teams traded errors and points, reaching a 7-7 tie after a service error by the Pioneers and a kill by Neelands. Tusculum surged ahead with a 6-0 run, highlighted by a service ace from Church, establishing a 13-8 lead. Neelands and Hiott added late kills for Edinboro, but the Pioneers closed out the set and match with a final score of 15-10.
 
Neelands led the Scots with 25 kills and collected 15 digs. Petro contributed 23 assists and added five digs to her defensive efforts. Burns facilitated the offense with 25 assists and strengthened the defense with nine digs, while Josephine Bailey added five total blocks.
 
The Scots are back in action next Saturday when they travel to Jefferson.