MARS HILL, N.C. - Brevard College's volleyball team kicked off the penultimate weekend of the regular season on Friday evening at Mars Hill, falling to the host 3-1. Brevard moves to 10-15 on the season, 7-12 in South Atlantic Conference play.
In the first stanza both sides exchanged rallies, with the score tied 10 times throughout the opener. Mars Hill (7-19, 5-14 SAC) got the first rally with a string of three consecutive points to take the 8-6 advantage, only to be countered by a 5-0 run from Brevard sparked by a pair of service aces from Kindle Kirkham to make it 11-8. The Tornados were able to maintain the lead until a MHU block put the Lions up 20-19, followed by another point to give them a two score cushion. Brevard responded and kept the score close in the final phase of the set but gave up the last two points to drop the first set 25-22.
The Tornados put together their best set in the sequel, taking a 4-0 lead from the beginning and never allowing the Lions to take a lead. Mars Hill was able to rally and knot the score up at five all, but a kill from Savannah Cox and a service ace from Fatima Gharachorloo put Brevard back up by two. Brevard was able to yet again prevent a MHU lead with help from Cox as the junior recorded another kill with the score tied 12-12 to give the Tornados the second set lead for good. After helping BC maintain the lead throughout the set, Cox and Whitney DeMoss teamed up for the set-winning block to knot the overall score 1-1.
Mars Hill retaliated with a 25-12 set three victory and looked to have the match sealed up with an eight point advantage at 21-13. A Lions service error gave Brevard a point, and the ensuing Kirkham kill followed by another Cox and Demoss block brought new life into the set. The Tornados clawed at the lead and quickly made it a two point match at 23-21 with momentum on the visitor's side. Mars Hill scored the final two points to end the night with the victory.
Gharachorloo paced the attack with 12 kills while Cox was the most accurate Tornado with a .273 kill percentage and nine kills. The senior outside hitter also chipped in of defense with 16 digs for her 16th double-double of the season. Reigning conference player of the week Aleksandra Vrvilo anchored the defense with 29 digs, leading four BC players with double digit digs.
The Tornados are back in action tomorrow when they take on Tusculum at noon. The match will have playoff implications as Brevard trains the Pioneers by half a game for the eighth and final spot in the SAC Volleyball Championship.
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