The Bruins volleyball team extended their winning streak to ten in a row as the team battled to a 3-1 victory over Piedmont University on Tuesday night in Demorest, Georgia. With the win, the Bruins improve to 24-4 on the season.
"While not our best play especially early in the match, we were able to regroup and find a way to win," Bruins Head Coach Vickie Denny said. "Our floor defense definitely sparked our efforts and helped turn momentum in our favor to win the match."
The Bruins came into the match on the heels of back to back wins last weekend over Johnson University (FL) and Pensacola Christian College. Earlier this season, the Bruins faced Piedmont College in Greenville with the Bruins sweeping the Lions 3-0.
Piedmont entered Tuesday's match winning three of their last four games as the team entered at 6-18 on the season. The Bruins and Lions took the floor at Cave Arena with both looking to end the night with a win.
In the opening set, the Lions jumped out to an early lead but the Bruins battled back as Emma Riddle made back to back kills to tie the score at 4-4. The Bruins and Lions then exchanged points back and forth with the score remaining close.
At the midway point of the set, the Bruins scored four straight points thanks to errors by the Lions as the team led 14-10. The Lions came roaring back and eventually took a 20-17 lead as Jenna Ash and Jessica Sconyers made kills for the team. The Bruins tried to battle back but the home team took set one 25-20 to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
The Bruins looked to even the match in the second set and the team came out strong as a 5-0 run helped the team lead 12-5 early on. The Bruins kept up the pressure as Timbre Cruz made back to back kills to spark another run and extend the lead. Even a timeout couldn't slow the Bruins as the team roared to a 25-11 win in set two to even the match 1-1.
In the third set, the Bruins and Lions went back and forth before the Bruins scored four-straight points to take an 8-4 lead thanks to back to back kills from Victoria Glaze. The Bruins maintained the upper hand but the Lions continued to keep the score close eventually battling back to tie the set at 15-15.
Camila Silva gave the Bruins a 21-20 lead late in the set after back to back kills for the team. That gave the Bruins momentum as they held off the Lions with kills from Emma Riddle and Victoria Glaze to win set three 25-22 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Bruins had grabbed momentum and looked to finish off the Lions in set four. The Lions had other plans as kills from Jessica Beil and Bri King gave Piedmont a 7-4 lead. The Bruins battled back to tie the set, but the Lions again went on a four-point run to lead 12-9.
Later on in the set, the Bruins battled back to take the lead as Victoria Glaze made a kill and Katelyn Landkrohn had back to back aces as the Bruins led 17-15. After a timeout, the Bruins again came out strong as Glaze recorded back to back kills to help the Bruins lead 21-17 as they looked to finish off the match.
The Lions roared back with four-straight points to tie the set 21-21 forcing the Bruins to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, Victoria Glaze made a crucial kill before Timbre Cruz made two kills to help the Bruins win the set 25-22 and the match 3-1.
Victoria Glaze had a dominant performance for the Bruins with 22 kills and 19 digs in the win. Rachel Pattisall led the Bruins with 27 assists while Timbre Cruz had 23 digs. The Bruins played well defensively as the team combined with 96 digs and 13 blocks in the win.
Next up, the Bruins will be on the road again on Thursday night as the team faces Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, North Carolina.
