BREVARD, N.C. - The Brevard College volleyball team (6-7, 3-0 USA South) claimed the first two sets and won the deciding fifth set by three points as the Tornados prevailed 3-2 (25-20, 28-26, 21-25, 18-25, 15-12) over William Peace (7-5, 2-1 USAS) on Saturday afternoon at the Boshamer Gymnasium.
The result gives the Tornados their third five-set victory in USA South Conference play so far this season. With the 3-0 start to league play, the Tornados secure their first unbeaten start to conference play since joining the NCAA.
Junior outside hitter Caroline Moon set the tone for the Tornado attack, driving home a career-high 21 kills to lead all players. Bailey Blackmon (nine kills) and Emma Fontana (eight kills) controlled the net with five total blocks apiece. Izzy Boulay notched a double-double with 29 assists and 13 digs, while Gianna Borcich led all Tornados with 14 digs.
The match was highly-competitive with 27 total tied scores and nine lead changes throughout.
BC jumped ahead by six midway through the first set, 14-8, and used a late 7-0 run to get to set point at 24-13. The Pacers did not go down quietly, however, as Peace scored seven in a row to trim the deficit to four. A kill from Raegan Harvey sealed the frame in favor of the Tornados, 25-20.
A marathon second set ensured which featured nine ties and a pair of lead changes. Peace scored four points in a row to push its lead to six points late, 20-14. BC answered by scoring seven of the next nine to trim the deficit down to just a point, 22-21. The Pacers got to set point at 24-21, but were denied three times by the Tornados who came back and tied the set up.
Peace was denied set point again at 25-24 and 26-25, as Brevard scored three in a row to seal the second set, 28-26.
The third set was tied in the late stages at 19-all before the Pacers scored six of the final eight points to claim the stanza, 25-21. Another late surge gave Peace a 25-18 victory in set four, sending the match to a winner-take-all fifth frame.
Brevard was able to jump to a four-point lead, 8-4, before the Pacers pulled to within one point at 11-10. BC wrapped the match up by scoring four of the next six, as the final two kills of the match were courtesy of Moon to complete BC's third five-set conference victory.
Brevard returns to action on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. vs. Salem at home.
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