Box Score
The BJU Bruins dropped their fourth straight game as they fell to the Converse College Valkyries 3-2 despite rallying from an 0-2 deficit to force a fifth set. With the loss, the Bruins fall to 7-8 on the season.

"It was another tough five set loss," Bruins Head Coach Vickie Denny said. "I was proud of our team that they didn't give up after dropping the firs two sets and fought hard to the end. They key to our future success is going to be reducing our unforced errors." 

The Bruins started out the first set with an ace by Lauren Johnson, her 25^th of the year as they game started out tied early at 2-2. A kill by Marjorie Elliott kept the Bruins close to Converse early but the Valkyries were able to find ways to keep a slight lead. A set of great kills would put the Bruins on a 4-0 run to take a 15-12 lead over the Valkyries. Sloppy play and service errors would dampen the Bruins set and the Valkyries were able to take a 22-20 lead. The Bruins couldn't find a way to recover and the Valkyries won the set 25-21 off of an out of bounds hit.

The Valkyries were able to keep the momentum on their side to start the second set as they quickly jumped to a 5-1 lead. The Bruins were able to catch up to the Valkyries and kills by Katherine Ring and Erin Jarvis put the Bruins within one at 11-10.  The Bruins called a timeout trailing 17-15 in an attempt to avoid going down 2-0. Despite some more kills by Ring and some good digs by Lauren Muckenschnabl, the Valkyries were able to power past the Bruins and win the set 25-19.

The Bruins now faced being down by two sets in the third, but the team responded with back to back points to open the set. This set proved to be the most even of the game, as the two teams tied several times. The Bruins were able to keep the set close and they didn't allow Converse to pull away early as they had in previous sets. An illegal hit on the Valkyries finally put the Bruins up 15-14. The Valkyries would retake the lead with the score at 20-19 but a great effort by Ring and Tubbs allowed the Bruins to withstand the Valkyries' attacks as the Bruins took the set 25-23.

The fourth set proved to be the most dramatic of the match. The Valkyries, determined to take the set and finish off the Bruins, erupted for an impressive 7-0 run which included two aces. Refusing to back down, Rachel Tubbs made a kill to finally put the Bruins on the board in the set. Thanks to an ace by Saleena Walker the Bruins were able to continue to chip away at the Valkyrie lead. and a block by Jarvis tied the set at 15. The Bruins continued to match Converse point for point. Kills by Brittany Annand, Erin Jarvis and Katherine Ring were enough to get the Bruins past Converse 25-23 for the second straight set and forced a decisive fifth set.

With momentum on their side, the Bruins now looked to win the game after their dramatic fourth set comeback. However, the Valkyries were prepared and they went on another 7-0 run to start out the final set. The Bruins couldn't recover from the deficit as the Valkyries went on to win the final set 15-9 and the match 3-2. 

"It was an incredible comeback," Coach Denny said. "Unfortunately we just got off to a slow start in set five which sealed the defeat." 

Katherine Ring led the Bruins with 14 kills on the night while Erin Jarvis finished with 13. Saleena Walker played an incredible defensive game with 40 digs on the night. With the loss, the Bruins fall to 7-8 on the year. Next up, the Bruins will travel to Montreat College on Thursday for their first of seven straight away games.