The BJU Bruins defeated the Piedmont International University Bruins in three quick sets on Thursday night as the team pushed their winning streak to 15-straight. Although the PIU Bruins put up a fight, the BJU Bruins came out on top, solidly finishing the last regular season game before the NCCAA National Tournament.
The first set started out with the teams exchanging point after point. It took a few volleys for the BJU Bruins to warm up, but they soon got their heads in the game and the hits started hitting inside the lines. The PIU Bruins attacked well with some well-placed hits. It wasn't until Courtney Bates stepped up to serve that the BJU Bruins pulled farther than three points ahead. Despite two timeouts by PIU, Bates finished the game 25-15 with a seven serve streak.
Set two was not as close of a set. Rachel Williams pulled the BJU Bruins up to a quick lead with a six-point serving streak. Jordan Anderson dominated the front line with sly dumps and good hits. At one point, Williams received a ball with her face, but the BJU Bruins were somehow able to get a set and a kill off, winning the point. Jamie Grimes solidified the 25-13 win with a strong kill to put the BJU Bruins up 2-0 in the match.
The third set began similar to the first: points bounced from team to team. The score was tied three times before Lauren Mukenschnabl serves, along with the help of Katherine Ring and Abby Plew's kills, brought the score 7-4. The BJU Bruins kept the lead the rest of the set. Brooke Beaver was dominant in the set with kill after kill, successfully securing five points in the third set alone. Despite a few well-placed hits, the PIU Bruins struggled to catch back up. The game ended 25-13 with a well-placed push by Ring.
The BJU/PIU match was originally scheduled for earlier in the season, according to Coach Denny. However, it was unable to be played then and the only time available to play it was between the regional and national tournaments.
"I had mixed feelings going into it," Denny said. "But to be able to play a really good team at a time when we just want to tweak some things worked out for our advantage. I thought we played very well tonight."
Brooke Beaver led the team in kills, with 10 total kills. Jordan Anderson followed with nine kills. Anderson also led the team in serves with four serving aces. Beaver and Saleena Walker each had 14 digs.
The Lady Bruins earned the #1 seed for the NCCAA National Tournament which begins next week in Greenville, South Carolina. On Thursday, November 15, the Bruins open pool play against #8 Randall University, at 2:00 p.m. and #5 Johnson University of Tennessee, at 6:00 p.m. Come out to support the Lady Bruins in the NCCAA National Tournament!
