MISENHEIMER, N.C. – The Brevard College volleyball team (3-16, 1-9 USA South) won its first USA South Conference match of the season with a thrilling, five-set win over host Pfeiffer (5-17, 3-7 USAS) on Wednesday evening at Merner Gym in Misenheimer, North Carolina. The win marked the first victory for the Tornados in five sets this season as BC won the decisive frame to take the 24-26, 25-17, 25-15, 23-25, 15-12 win.
Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Hoxit led all players on the court with 19 kills. Junior Makenna Parkins added 15 kills, while the versatile Kaitlyn Pressley registered 12 kills and 15 assists. Setter Logan Priddy led Brevard in distribution with 22 assists.
Defensively, BC was led by libero Bailey Lance who registered 18 digs. Pressley recorded nine digs herself to end up one dig shy of a triple-double of kills, assists, and digs. Priddy (nine), Hoxit (eight), and Caitlin Hagarty (six) were effective with the dig as well on the defensive side.
The service game proved to be a weapon for the Tornados who as a team registered 11 aces with Parkins and Lance leading the way with three apiece. Priddy served two aces, while Pressley, Ashlyn Baumann, and Kendall Rockstad each recorded service winners as well.
Pfeiffer was led by setter Kira Suttles with 29 assists and libero Gabby Edwards with 31 digs. Mattie Burris was the top Falcon at the net with 13 kills.
Each of the five sets proved to be competitive affairs beginning with the first frame that went 26-24 in favor of the home team. Brevard bounced back in the second set, reeling off a 9-2 run capped off by a kill from Parkins on an assist by Bailey Lance to tie the match 1-1.
The Tornados were stout again down the stretch in the third set, winning 10 of the set's final 13 points. Lance served the final three points of the set, including an ace, to propel BC ahead 2-1.
The fourth set was tight as Pfeiffer fought to stay in the match with several tied scores between the two teams including at 22-22 after a kill by Pressley, assisted by Priddy. The Falcons however would pull away to take a 25-23 win and force a final, fifth set.
BC took an early 8-2 lead in the fifth set on the services of Rockstad and Parkins. The Tornados would then take a 10-5 advantage, however, Pfeiffer battled back with a 5-0 run to tie the set 10-10. After another tie at 11-11, BC would earn a point off a kill by Parkins followed by three straight points on Priddy's service to create a match-point scenario at 14-11. Pfeiffer fought off the first match point situation to cut the lead to 14-12. Priddy then found Parkins for a match-winning kill to give the Tornados the hard-fought victory.
Brevard will return to USA South Conference play with a trip to Raleigh, North Carolina for a league quad-match with contests vs. host Meredith and William Peace. BC will then return home to take on Salem for Senior Night on Tuesday, October 18 at 6 p.m. at the Boshamer Gymnasium.
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-BC-