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The Bob Jones University Bruins had an impressive opening in the 2017 NCCAA DII National Tournament as the team swept both the #5 seeded Providence University College Pilots and #8 Emmaus Bible College Eagles in straight sets.

"It was a great team effort today," Bruins Head Coach Vickie Denny said. "We had several players step up in both matches to help us win. Our stats were above season average and I believe our tougher season schedule helped prepare us for the competition we would face here at nationals."

The victory against the Pilots, last year's national runner-up, was the Bruins volleyball team's first ever win in the NCCAA DII National Tournament. The Bruins raced to a 5-2 lead early in the first set which included a kill by Erin Jarvis and Saleena Walker's 58^th ace of the season. The Bruins lead increased to 8-2 after another ace and an unforced error on the Pilots. The Bruins combined a pair of kills from Katherine Ring and Laura Gaston with an ace from Rachel Tubbs to take a commanding 11-4 lead. The Pilots were able to battle back as they eventually tied the set 23-23. Erin Jarvis came up big for the Bruins with back to back kills to give the team a 25-23 victory in set one.

Both teams played evenly to start the second set and tied 5-5 early. The Pilots got two back to back aces to help reach an early 8-5 lead over the Bruins. The set tied yet again at 11-11, but a double hit on Providence coupled with back to back kills by Jarvis put the Bruins up 13-11. The Pilots were forced to call a timeout after errors lengthened the Bruins lead to 15-11. The timeout was not enough to stop the Bruins red-hot play, as kills by Jarvis, Ring, and an ace by Gaston help close out the set with a 25-17 win.

With momentum on their side, the Bruins dominant play continued into the third set as they quickly jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Kills by Ring, Gaston, and Tubbs boosted the Bruins to a 10-5 lead and forced the Pilots to call a timeout. Errors on the Pilots extended the Bruins lead to 13-7, but the Pilots came back with a 5-1 run to eventually tie the set at 15-15. The Bruins used a timeout to try to re-establish their dominance, but the remainder of the set was kept close. Jarvis and Gaston's kills helped keep the Bruins in the set and the Bruins used their final timeout after a 23-23 tie. Again, the Bruins were able to find the spark to close as Saleena Walker's ace completely the sweep with the Bruins winning 26-24.
 
In their second match of the day, the Bruins faced the Emmaus Bible College who had battled #1 seeded Kentucky Christian University in a 3-1 loss earlier in the day. The Bruins picked up where they left off as they pieced together strong play in all sides to win the first set 25-19. 
 
The Eagles took off to an early 7-3 lead in the second set. The Bruins were able to claw their way back into the set off of some kills by Gaston and unforced errors on the Eagles. A kill by Jarvis tied the set at 9-9 and then the Bruins went on a 4-0 run to take a 13-9 lead. The Eagles tried to fight back but the Bruins used great kills by Marjorie Elliott and Laura Gaston and an ace to finish the set with a 25-17 win. The Bruins now led the match 2-0.

Saleena Walker started off the third set with an ace which helped give the Bruins a 3-1 lead. Rachel Tubbs was able to notch an ace of her own to extend the Bruins lead to 5-2. The Bruins continued to stretch their lead as a block by Ring and Tubbs gave the Bruins a 12-8 advantage, forcing the Eagles to call a timeout. The Eagles tried to battle their way to a win in the set, but Erin Jarvis recorded four kills down the stretch to help the Bruins win the  able to get the four of the final five kills and the Bruins won the third set 25-17 to win the match 3-0. 

Erin Jarvis led the Bruins on the day with 29 kills while providing a dominant offensive presence for the team all day long. "Erin was our go-to hitter today," Coach Denny said. "Of course, that only happens with solid passing and good setting but Erin was exceptional today." 

The Bruins team has put themselves in a good position to advance to the final four of the tournament. The team will play the last of their pool play matches Friday morning as they battle #1 seeded Kentucky Christian University. 

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