The Bruins volleyball team fell in straight sets to Erskine College on Friday night despite a hard-fought match throughout. With the loss, the Bruins fall to 7-6 on the season as the team fell to the Flying Fleet 26-24, 25-21, 27-25.
"Our goal was to come in and play them tougher than we did the last time we played them," Bruins Head Coach Vickie Denny said. "Erskine is a good team. They are tall and run a quick offense. When we have the opportunity to play a team like that we want to play well and learn as we prepare for our regional tournament."
The Bruins came into the match on the heels of three straight sweeps last weekend. The Bruins last loss came to Erskine on October 15 as the team fell 3-0 in Due West, South Carolina. Friday's match would be the final home match of the regular season as the Bruins and Flying Fleet took the floor.
In the opening set, the Fleet came out strong as they built a 4-1 lead. The Bruins answered right back as Victoria Glaze made a kill and Emma Riddle an ace to spark a run and give the Bruins a 7-5 lead. The two teams went back and forth trading points and the lead in the midway point of the set before an error by the Bruins gave Erskine a 20-18 lead.
The Bruins responded well as Brook Beaver and Victoria Glaze made kills to power the Bruins to a 22-20 lead. Back to back kills by Beaver gave the Bruins set point as they looked to close it out. Instead, the Fleet came back and scored four straight points to win set one 26-24.
As the second set began, the Bruins knew they had let an opportunity slip away. They came out strong as Emma Riddle recorded three kills as the Bruins went on a 10-1 run to take a commanding 15-6 lead. It looked as though the Bruins would run away with the set but the Flying Fleet came roaring back with a 10-0 run as they tied the set 16-15. Erskine had grabbed momentum and they took advantage as they built the lead and closed out set two winning 25-21 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Bruins came out looking to avoid the sweep in set three. Victoria Glaze provided two kills while Faith Rahn had an ace as the Bruins went on a 7-0 run to take a 10-5 lead. Again, the Flying Fleet answered right back as they scored the next five points to tie the set 10-10.
The two teams went back and forth trading points as the score remained close throughout the set. After a kill by Brooke Beaver and an error by Erskine, the Bruins again found themselves at set point as they tried to stay alive and force a fourth set. Again, the Flying Fleet rallied as back to back kills tied it at 25-25 before Erskine finished off the Bruins winning 27-25 and the match 3-0.
"It doesn't matter whether we win or lose we want to bring good energy and want to be positive and do our best," Coach Denny said. "This team doesn't give up and sooner or later we are going to get over the hump and win these close sets."
Brooke Beaver led the Bruins in the match as she finished with 13 kills and 12 digs in the loss. Brittany Annand had 29 assists while Victoria Glaze finished with 8 kills and 12 digs.
Next up, the Bruins will wrap up the regular season of play on Saturday as they face Brewton-Parker College and Trinity Baptist College in a road tri-match in Mount Vernon, Georgia.
