BREVARD, N.C. - Despite double-digit kill outbursts by senior Savannah Cox (Kannapolis, N.C.) and junior Stephanie Lambert (Florence, Ky.) the Brevard College Tornados (5-18, 4-12 SAC) dropped a 3-2 decision to the Mars Hill Lions (6-15, 5-9 SAC), Saturday afternoon.
Cox finished with a team-high 17 kills, hitting .250 for the match to go along with one solo block. While Lambert added 14 kills, four service aces, seven digs and two block assists for the effort. In addition to Cox and Lambert, junior Rachel Ruble (Advance, N.C.) and freshman Callie Chappell (Rosman, N.C.) posted nine kills, while junior Hannah Elmore (Salisbury, N.C.) recorded six kills in the decision.
Junior setter Erin Barr (Hamptonville, N.C.) led the Tornados with 46 assists on the afternoon, while five Brevard College players posted double-digit kills for the match. Senior Aleksandra Vrvilo (Beaverton, Ore.) recorded a team-high 21 scoops, while junior Maggie Weiss (Clemmons, N.C.) added 18 kills. Barr finished the game with an even 10 digs as juniors Kathryn Beasley (Mount Airy, N.C.) and Bri Vargas (Maryville, Tenn.) contributed 14 and 15 scoops, respectively.
Mars Hill would open the afternoon with a 25-21 first set victory, before the Tornados evened the match at 1-1 with a 25-21 set victory of their own in the second frame. Brevard would take a 2-1 advantage into the fourth set of the afternoon, winning by a final of 25-18 in set three.
The Lions, however, would even the match a 2-2 with a 25-21 set four win, forcing a deciding fifth set. The Tornados would jump out on the Lions 8-3 in the final point, before Mars Hill would take the final set 15-13 and the 3-2 win.
The Tornados will return to action next weekend as they take to the road for a pair of conference matchups with Newberry, October 28 and Anderson on October 29.