CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Brevard's best run in program history keeps on getting better.
The Tornados took down conference foe Queens in straight sets on Friday evening, extending Brevard's longest-ever winning streak over South Atlantic Conference competition to four matches.
Three of Brevard's (6-8, 5-5 SAC) four wins in the streak came in comeback fashion dating back to a four-set win at Newberry on Sept. 26. The four straight wins equal the Tornados' season-opening run in 2014 and is the longest since Brevard reeled off seven straight victories to open the 2012 season.
Brevard took control of the match with a come-from-behind win in the first set that drained the life from the Levine Center crowd. The Tornados forced a Queens (3-7, 4-10 SAC) timeout after seizing a 7-4 lead in the early going, but the Royals responded with an 8-2 run to flip the advantage to three points for Queens.
The Royals' Jessica Raines and Elizabeth Bialkowski continually placed balls just outside the Tornados' reach through the middle stages of the set, combining to hit an errorless .500 with seven kills in the opening frame and helping to keep the Tornados at bay.
Brevard found itself trailing 24-21 following a Meredith Jones termination, but responded with a pair of Fatima Gharachorloo kills around a Royals' attack error to tie the set. After the Royals reached set point, setter Erin Barr responded with a crafty kill to tie the score for the seventh time. A pair of errors sealed the 27-25 victory.
Neither team was able to wrest away control of the second set, with a 7-4 Brevard lead representing the largest advantage for either team until a Whitney DeMoss kill, a Queens error, and a block by DeMoss and Savannah Cox turned a 20-all tie into a three-point advantage. Following a timeout, DeMoss and Cox stuffed the same attacker on a nearly identical play to give Brevard set point, and a Gharachorloo kill sealed the victory moments later.
Gharachorloo finished with a match-high 10 kills and was one of three Tornados to accumulate double-digit digs with 12. Barr also had a double-double, finishing with 27 assists and 14 digs, while Aleksandra Vrvilo led the Tornados with 16 digs. Cox and Ruble each finished with three blocks, with two solo efforts by Ruble.
Brevard again showed a grittiness and ability to come from behind in the third and final set, clawing its way out of a deep deficit late in the match. Head coach Anna Wagner called a timeout with the score 20-16, but the Royals would score two more points before the Tornados again blazed the comeback trail on their way to their first sweep since Sept. 8.
A 9-1 run in the final moments proved to be the Royals' undoing. An attack error started the spurt, preceding DeMoss and Queens's Jones trading kills. Brevard responded by scoring the final seven points of the match, sparked by a Kindle Kirkham kill and three straight attack errors by the Royals. DeMoss tied the match at 23 with a kill before Cox took advantage of a free kill with a thunderous kill to give Brevard match point.
Kirkham again came through with a big kill moments later, giving Brevard the sweep and ensuring that the winner of the first set went on to win the match for the first time in five outings.
With its victory, the Tornados are locked in a three-way tie for fifth in the league standings with Lincoln Memorial and tomorrow's opponent in Catawba. First serve between the Tornados and Indians is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
To keep up with all the latest information about the Tornados, "Like" our Brevard College Tornado Athletics Facebook page or follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @BCTornados.
Featured image courtesy of Shawn Millsaps. Click here to view more images by Shawn.
