BREVARD, N.C. - The Brevard College volleyball team hosted its "Dig Pink" match on Tuesday evening - its annual match in correlation with the Sideout Foundation promoting Breast Cancer Awareness - as the Tornados (1-23) fell to the visiting Bob Jones University Bruins (26-4), 3-0, in BC's final home contest of the 2019 season at the Boshamer Gymnasium.
Mariana Rodriguez paced Brevard's defense with 13 kills, while freshman Breanna O'Shields had a well-rounded effort with 10 digs and five kills. Freshman setter Grace Pukas led the Tornados by dishing out 10 assists. Fellow freshmen Julie McGahy (4 kills) and Timiah McGhee (3 kills) also contributed to the Tornado attack.
Brevard accumulated five service aces and four total blocks over the course of the match.
In the first set, the Tornados erased their early deficit and battled back to tie the frame at 6-6 on a Brook Groves' kill. Brevard kept the set within striking distance, trailing just 11-10 before Bob Jones scored seven out of the next eight points to take a commanding 17-11 lead. Bob Jones went on to wrap up their first set victory 25-16.
Brevard's early 2-1 lead in the second set was erased by a highly competitive Bruins team that went on to win set number two, 25-15.
The third set proved to be the closest of the match, with the Tornados keeping close with the Bruins through the early goings of the set. Brevard once again trailed just 11-10 before the Bruins capitalized on seven out of the next eight points, eventually controlling the match-clinching set, 25-17 for the straight-set victory.
Brevard gears up for a mid-week USA South road test on Wednesday, October 30 against Piedmont College at 6 p.m. before traveling to its last USA South quad-match of the 2019 season this upcoming weekend in Decatur, Georgia. The Tornados first face-off with the host Agnes Scott College at 10 a.m. before squaring off against Covenant College at 2 p.m.
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