BREVARD, N.C. - Despite a 18 kill performance by senior middle hitter Savannah Cox (Kannapolis, N.C.) the Brevard College Tornados (3-13, 3-7 SAC) were unable to hang on to an early 2-0 lead, falling by a 3-2 final to the Carson-Newman Eagles (2-12, 2-8).
Cox would lead the Tornados offense with a game-high 18 kills on a .326 hitting percentage for the match. Freshman Callie Chappell (Rosman, N.C.) and junior Rachel Ruble (Advance, N.C.) would record double-digit kills, finishing with 10 and 13 kills, respectively. While, sophomore Stephanie Lambert (Florence, Ky.) recorded a solid performance for the blue and white, compiling nine kills on .350 hitting from the floor.
Senior Libero Aleksandra Vrvilo (Beaverton, Ore.) collected another game-high 29 kills, while junior Maggie Weiss (Clemmons, N.C.) turned in 24 scoops of her own. Junior setter Erin Barr finished tied with Carson-Newman's Anna Patton with 41 assists, adding 14 digs, two kills and two service aces for the match.
In addition, junior Bri Vargas (Maryville, Tenn.) posted double digit digs with 10, while Lambert completed the match with four blocking assists.
The Tornados would begin the evening with a 25-23 first set victory, battling the Eagles point-for-point up until a 19-19 tie. Brevard would benefit from back-to-back Chappell kills and two late kills by Ruble to pull out the first set point.
Set two would be all Brevard as the Tornados jumped out to an early 17-9 lead and didn't look back on their way to a 25-16 set victory.
Carson-Newman would pull within one point of BC in the third set, winning by a final of 26-24, as both squads battled point-for-point throughout the match, Brevard holding a slight 24-23 lead into the final points. An attack error by Cox, Kill by Natalie Harris and a service Taylor Lowe would force a deciding set four.
The Eagles would use the four frame of the match to open a 15-9 lead, using the early momentum to even the contest a 2-2, taking a 25-19 fourth set win.
In the final set of the evening, Carson-Newman opened on a 6-2 run before back-to-back kills by Cox and an attack error by Kendall Cooley, pulled the Tornados within one point at 6-5. The Eagles would gain momentum back, moving out 12-8 on Brevard, before BC would go on a 5-1 run to even the game at 13-13. Carson-Newman would benefit, however, on a kill by Abbie McFarlane and a Hannah Elmore (Salisbury, N.C.) attack error to take the point 15-13 and the game 3-2.
The Tornados will look to get back into the win column tomorrow as they play host to Lincoln Memorial University at 2 p.m. as part of Brevard College Homecoming Weekend.
