SEWANEE, Tenn. - The Brevard College volleyball team (0-2) kicked off its 2025 campaign on Friday at the Sewanee Invitational, hosted by The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.
The Tornados dropped a pair of matches, falling in a five-set thriller to former conference foe Berea College (1-1) before a three-set sweep at the hands of host Sewanee (1-0).
Several Tornados notched new career highs in the first contest of the day. Caroline Moon's game-high 17 kills was a new career mark for the Woodstock, Georgia sophomore, while Papillion, Nebraska sophomore middle blocker Emma Fontana registered a career-high 12 kills. Sophomore setter Izzy Boulay matched a career-high with 47 assists distributed vs. Berea.
BEREA 3, BREVARD 2 (22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 22-25, 15-13)
Berea came out hot in set number one, earning seven of the first nine and 10 of the first 14 points to open up a six-point advantage, 10-4. The Tornados stormed back with a 13-3 scoring run to flip the script, and held on for the remainder of the set to clinch a 25-22 first-set triumph.
A hotly-contested second set ensued, with neither side taking more than a four-point lead at any point in the stanza. With the score 19-18 in favor of the Mountaineers, Berea was able to close the set out by outscoring Brevard 6-4 down the stretch to tie the overall match up at 1-1.
Berea was able to cruise in the third stanza, leading by as many as 10 points before securing a 25-18 win that put the Mountaineers on the doorstep of victory in the season opener.
Brevard was able to deny Berea in the fourth set, repeating with a 25-22 set win through a back-and-forth stretch. After the Mountaineers tied the set at 22 points apiece, Brevard rallied off three points with consecutive Moon kills and a Lili White service ace.
In the decisive fifth set, the Mountaineers were able to win the race to the midway point, holding a narrow 8-7 edge. Brevard was able to score three in a row to take an 11-9 edge, but a final and crucial 6-2 stretch by Berea wrapped up the thrilling five-set victory for the Mountaineers.
In her collegiate debut, Abigail Kelly was able to lead the Tornados with three service aces to go alongside 16 digs in the match. Senior middle blocker Jaxson Tumicki protected the net with three blocks as well.
SEWANEE 3, BREVARD 0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-16)
In what was the 2025 opener for tournament host Sewanee, the Tigers were able to cruise to a dominant victory in straight sets. Savannah Gann led the charge with 16 kills, whule Emma Meyer dished out 17 dimes and Sophia Caruso added 11 digs on the defensive end.
Fontana paced the Tornados with six kills on her ledger, while Boulay facilitated 13 assists. Kelly, the Portland, Texas freshman outside hitter, led BC's defense with eight digs.
Brevard was able to keep sets close through the early stages, but the Tigers pounced in each stanza, pulling away with sizable margins in the straight-set victory.
BC will look to bounce back, as the Tornados conclude action at the Sewanee Invitational tomorrow with two matches against Maryville (12 p.m. ET) and Huntingdon (4 p.m. ET).
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-BC-
