The Bruins volleyball team looked poised to win their 9th match in a row as they took a 2-0 lead over Piedmont College. The Lions had other plans as the team stormed back to snap the Bruins winning streak by winning a five-set thriller 3-2 on Tuesday night in Demorest, Georgia. With the loss, the Bruins fall to 10-2 on the season.
"Credit to Piedmont as they battled back after dropping two sets and played outstanding defense," Bruins Head Coach Vickie Denny said. "They capitalized on our defensive lapses and gradually turned the momentum of the match. Hopefully we learned some important lessons from this loss as we continue our season of play."
The Bruins came into the match after going a perfect 3-0 in competition last week with victories over Toccoa Falls College, Erskine College, and Methodist University. Piedmont College entered Tuesday's game with a 2-8 record, having dropped five straight matches including a five-set loss to Reinhardt University on Saturday.
In the opening set, Brooke Beaver opened the scoring for the Bruins with a kill and an ace as the Bruins took a 3-0 lead. The Lions came right back to even the score and both teams remained close after that with neither building more than a two-point advantage.
Near the midway point of the set, Katherine Ring came up with a kill for the Bruins and a bad set by Piedmont gave BJU at 17-14 lead. The Lions responded with a run as they stormed back on a 6-1 run to take a 20-18 lead over the Bruins. Coach Denny called a timeout which proved to be effective as the team came out with kills from Emma Riddle and Victoria Glaze. The Bruins kept up their momentum as Beaver and Glaze closed out the set for the Bruins with back to back kills to win 25-23.
In the second set, the Bruins kept up their momentum as two kills from Glaze and a kill from Beaver sparked a 5-1 lead for BJU. Again, the Lions came roaring back thanks to stellar defensive play as they evened the score 7-7. Much like they did in the first set, the Bruins and Lions traded points with the score remaining close before the Bruins went on a 5-0 run courtesy of great serving by Lauren Mukenschnabl to help the team take a 19-15 lead.
Despite a short run by the Lions, the Bruins were able to keep the upperhand as Emma Riddle and Brooke Beaver finished off the set with two straight kills to lead the team to a 25-19 win in set two. With the win, the Bruins took a 2-0 lead into the third set as they looked to close out the match.
With a sweep in sight, the Bruins came out strong with six straight points to take the lead. Laura Gaston and Katherine Ring added kills but the Lions continued to chip away at the Bruins lead. Near the midway point of the set, the Lions caught fire on an 8-1 run which turned momentum in their favor. The crowd got into it as they hoped their team could avoid the sweep and win the set. Two kills by Erica Balkcum kept the Lions alive as they stayed a rally by the Bruins to win 25-22 and force a fourth set.
The Bruins came out frustrated they had let the third set slip away from them. The Lions had momentum and matched the Bruins point for point as the score remained close in the fourth set. Brooke Beaver added another kill for the Bruins as they took a 13-10 lead but the Lions responded with six straight points to take a 16-13 lead.
Beaver and Riddle came up with kills for the Bruins but the Lions answered right back as they kept a single-digit lead. Alina Roberts had two kills down the stretch as the Lions forced a fifth and final set edging the Bruins 25-23 in set four.
The Lions had completely grabbed momentum and it showed as they opened the fifth set scoring the first four points. The Bruins made several costly mistakes early on and the Lions took advantage as they continued to increase their lead. Still, the Bruins refused to quit as a kill and an ace by Beaver began a short rally for the team. Unfortunately, the deficit was too much to overcome as the Lions completed the comeback winning the fifth set 15-9 and the match 3-2.
Four players recorded double-figures in kills with three earning a double-double on the night in kills and digs. Brooke Beaver led the way for the Bruins with 17 kills, 4 aces and 10 digs in the match. Victoria Glaze, Katherine Ring and Emma Riddle each had 12 kills while Brittany Annand finished with 60 assists and Saleena Walker 35 digs in the match.
Next up, the Bruins return home on Thursday night as they welcome Columbia College to the Davis Field House.
