WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Brevard College volleyball continued its stellar start on Saturday, earning sweeps over Emmanuel and Winston-Salem State at the inaugural Al Roseboro Invitational to remain perfect on the season.
In seven years as full NCAA Division II members, only once have the Tornados (4-0) put together a better start to the season. Brevard won its first seven matches in 2012 en route to a 10-win season. The Tornados equaled their 4-0 start to the 2009 campaign, a season in which the team finished at 15-15.
In the Saturday morning's contest with Emmanuel (1-2), the Tornados' defense again shone brightly. The Lions were held to a hitting percentage of just .023 for the match as the Tornados tallied three blocks and forced 21 attack errors. No Emmanuel player had more than four kills, and Libby Bradford led the Lions with just 11 assists for the match.
Brevard dominated all three sets in a match that saw just four ties and two total lead changes. After taking the first set 25-18, the Tornados built a 19-11 advantage in the second set before the Lions came storming back, scoring 10 of the next 15 points to close the gap to 24-21. But Emmanuel was unable to complete the comeback as a service error gave Brevard the win. The Tornados never trailed in the third set, building an early 9-1 lead and coasting to a 25-16 victory.
In the day's final contest, the Tornados dispatched the tournament hosts in three sets, continuing their run of outstanding defensive play. The Lady Rams (0-3) hit .062, committing 21 errors while totaling 26 kills on their 80 attacks. Winston-Salem State's Olivia Owens matched Brevard's Fatima Gharachorloo and Hannah Elmore with a match-high nine kills and hit .444 on 18 attempts, while four Rams were held to negative hitting percentages.
The first set began inauspiciously for the Tornados, who took a timeout trailing 8-1 in the early going. Brevard attempted to fight back, closing the gap to as little as a point at 15-14, but were unable to match the Lady Rams or take the lead.
Winston-Salem State reached set point on a Jenna Baranowski kill, leading Brevard 24-19. But kills by Rachel Ruble and Bri Vargas before a Baranowski attack error made the score 24-22. Another Ruble kill forced a Lady Rams' timeout. Then it was Hannah Elmore's turn to come up with a termination, drawing the Tornados even for the first time in the match. Consecutive attack errors by the Lady Rams gave Brevard the improbable victory after the Tornados rattled off seven straight points for the comeback win.
The deflated Lady Rams played well at the onset of the second set, forcing four early ties, but the Tornados gradually extended their lead and earned a 25-17 victory. The suffocating Brevard defense then had its best performance on the young season in the third set, forcing Winston-Salem State into nine attack errors and just four kills on 24 attempts for an eye-popping attack percentage of -.208 en route to a 25-13 win.
Through its four wins at the Al Roseboro Invitational, the Tornados have allowed an opponents' attack percentage of just .054 while Brevard's attack percentage stands at .233. Brevard has 49 more kills and 25 less errors than its opponents on just 17 more total attempts.
The Tornados will attempt to continue their winning ways next Friday as the team travels to Columbus, Georgia to compete in the Hughston Clinic Invitational hosted by Columbus State University. Brevard will face Erskine at 4:30 p.m. on Friday before taking on Pfeiffer and Georgia College on Saturday.
