BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College volleyball team (9-10, 6-3 USA South) concluded the first half of USA South Conference play with a resounding four-set victory over Southern Virginia (6-7, 5-3 USAS) on Tuesday at the Boshamer Gymnasium.
The win over SVU catapulted the Tornados to a tie for second place in the USA South standings. The win marked the third time the Tornados have taken down the Knights in 10 all-time meetings.
BC split the day with a five-set marathon defeat to Piedmont (10-8), where the Tornados battled back from a 2-0 match deficit to force a winner-take-all fifth set, which the Lions narrowly won, 20-18.
BREVARD 3, SOUTHERN VIRGINIA 1 (25-18, 21-25, 25-23, 25-21)
Caroline Moon and
Rowan Raney led the attack for the Tornados with 10 kills apiece, while Moon notched a double-double, adding 10 digs.
Elly McClough added eight kills, while
Emma Fontana was a force all match with six kills, seven total blocks, and five service aces. Reigning USA South Rookie of the Week
Bailey Blackmon added six kills and four blocks, while
Madison Warren led all Tornados with 22 assists and
Gianna Borcich led the squad with 14 digs.
The Knights featured three players with double-digit kills – Ryann Vail (13), Anne Downs (13), and Baylee Mirabal (12). Downs and Mirabal recorded double-doubles with 20 and 15 digs, respectively, while Chloe Murray (28 assists) and Adah Elam (21) each distributed 20-plus dimes.
BC established the early lead, 12-6, in the first set of the match, and held the advantage the rest of the way. The Knights drew to within two points, 15-13, and pulled to within three late, 21-18, but the Tornados scored four-straight to cap off a 25-18 victory in the first set.
SVU jumped out 7-2 in the second set, but Brevard chipped away, pulling to within a point twice late, 20-19 and 22-21. The Knights were able to close the frame with three points in a row, securing the set victory, 25-21. The third set went back-and-forth with several lengthy scoring runs. BC held an 8-5 lead before the Knights scored six straight to retake the lead, 11-8. BC answered with a 5-0 run, and the Knights responded with four in a row to hold a narrow 16-15 margin. With the score tied at 20 points, SVU used a Vail kill and two service aces to retake the lead, 23-20, but Brevard responded with a stellar 5-0 run to clinch the set.
With Brevard up by three in the deciding fourth set, 16-13, the Tornados surged for a six-point run with kills by
Raegan Harvey, Raney, and Warren coupled with a pair of Moon service aces to hold a controlling nine-point set lead, 22-13. The Knights battled back, scoring eight of the next 10 to pull to within three, 24-21, but McClough's kill off a Borcich assist clinched BC's sixth conference win of the season.
PIEDMONT 3, BREVARD 2 (25-19, 25-15, 20-25, 21-25, 20-18)
Utilizing a grand total of 14 players throughout the match, the Tornados were able to rally from down 2-0 to tie the match and force a decisive fifth set, which the Lions narrowly won, 20-18.
Nevaeh Gaidurgis led the Tornado attack with a career-high 14 kills, and added 15 digs for her first collegiate double-double.
Katelyn McCurry added a career-best nine kills with three blocks, while Harvey totaled six kills and
Aubrey Louden added five.
Ariel Rieck stuffed the stat sheet with 21 assists, 16 digs, and three kills;
Abigail Kelly led all Tornados with 23 digs, and
Kirklyn Hudler served up four aces.
The Lions were led by Lillian Gaskins, who notched 17 kills and 19 digs, while Alexandrea Dorman added 11 kills to the effort. Rylee Vessell had a team-high 22 digs, and Erin Lemons distributed 20 assists.
The Tornados are back in conference action, traveling to Buena Vista, Virginia, for a tri-match on Saturday vs. SVU (10 a.m.) and NC Wesleyan (12 p.m.)
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