The Bruins volleyball team extended their winning streak to ten in a row as the team swept Piedmont International University and the University of Pikeville to improve to 23-3 on the season. The wins also extended the Bruins impressive run of thirty-straight sets won in a row.
"I really like the way we are playing right now," Bruins Head Coach Vickie Denny said. "We're really playing as one and getting good passing and setting. It is coming together nicely and the rhythm is there. We're playing right where we want to be this time of the year."
The Bruins came into the match on the heels of a road win on Thursday night as the team swept Columbia College in straight sets. For the first match of the day, the Bruins would face Piedmont International University. The two teams had met earlier in the season in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with BJU winning in straight sets.
Saleena Walker gave the Bruins a boost to start the match as the senior provided a strong serve with Brooke Beaver and Laura Gaston coming up with a pair of kills each to give the team a 6-0 lead.
Piedmont International tried to find an answer, but the Bruins offensive onslaught continued as Victoria Glaze and Emma Riddle got into the mix with kills with BJU leading 13-2. The Bruins never looked back as they played well both offensively and defensively to close out set one winning 25-8.
In the second set, the Bruins traded points with PIU before the team went on a 5-0 run to take a 9-5 lead. The Bruins continued to maintain the upper hand thanks to kills by Katherine Ring and Victoria Glaze as they pushed their lead to 19-9. Piedmont International tried to answer back, but the Bruins once again closed out the set in convincing fashion as Katherine Ring finished the set with a kill to give the Bruins the 25-12 win.
With their backs against the wall, Piedmont International came out looking to avoid the sweep. The two teams traded points early on before Laura Gaston and Victoria Glaze made kills to give the Bruins an 8-4 lead.
Piedmont International came right back with a run of their own as they eventually tied the set at 12-12. The Bruins responded well later on as the team went on a 6-0 run to take a commanding 22-15 lead. PIU tried to mount one last rally but kills from Glaze and Beaver allowed BJU to complete the sweep with a 25-21 win in set three.
Katherine Ring led the Bruins with 9 kills in the match while Brooke Beaver had 8 and Laura Gaston and Victoria Glaze each had seven. Brittany Annand finished with 30 assists. The Bruins had a strong serving attack as the team recorded seven aces over the course of the match.
"Our theme this year is unity and it's been showing up everywhere," Freshman Victoria Glaze said after the win. "The pass and defense has been playing getting great ups for us. When we go up to hit everyone is talking and telling us where to hit which is super helpful."
With just a little time to rest, the Bruins were right back on the court to face the University of Pikeville. The Bruins picked up where they left off as Saleena Walker again powered the team with three aces to build an 8-0 lead.
The Bears answered back with points, but the Bruins defense refused to let Pikeville get into a rhythm as kills by Beaver and Glaze gave BJU a 18-6 lead. The Bruins kept up the pressure as they scored four of the last five points in the set with Savannah Nissen finishing off the Bears with a kill to win 25-11.
In the second set, the score remained close early on before Beaver and Ring recorded two kills each to spark a run as the Bruins lead 10-5. The Bears didn't back down as they rallied to eventually take a 16-14 lead thanks to kills from Yeryvel Catala. That was the last point the Bears would score in the set as Glaze provided a strong serve to help the Bruins score eleven-straight points to close out the set 25-16.
The Bears looked to avoid the sweep as they recorded the first two points in set three. The Bruins came right back with another run as kills from Riddle and Beaver put the Bruins up 8-4. Freshman Rachel Pattisall sparked the Bruins as she recorded an ace as the Bruins stormed ahead with a run to make it 19-9. The team wouldn't be denied as Abby Plew finished off the Bears with a kill to win the third set 25-16 and the match 3-0.
Brooke Beaver had a dominant performance for the Bruins with 15 kills and 13 digs on the day. Defensively, the Bruins had 89 digs combined with Lauren Muksenschnabl and Saleena Walker leading the way with 23 and 20 digs respectively. Brittany Annand had another strong setting performance with 32 assists in the match.
"We have to keep doing what we've been doing," Coach Denny said. "We have some tough matches coming up, but we're looking forward to the challenge and hopefully we'll be able to come back out and get a win."
With the win, the Bruins remain unbeaten at home at a perfect 12-0. Next up, the team will be on the road on Thursday night as they face Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina.
