BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College volleyball team (6-14, 5-4 USAS) earned a hard-fought USA South Conference win, 3-1, over Piedmont University (3-14, 3-6 USAS) on Tuesday evening at the Boshamer Gymnasium.
Kaitlyn Pressley, a versatile sophomore from Brevard, turned in a clutch performance for the Tornados on the offensive end, totaling a game-high 19 kills while adding nine assists. Freshman outside hitter Ashley Hoxit added nine kills with Makenna Parkins totaling seven kills to help pace the Tornado offense. Logan Priddy, a freshman setter from Greensboro, North Carolina, dished out a game-high 25 assists while adding 12 digs on the defensive end for a double-double – the second of her collegiate career. Bailey Lance, a defensive specialist from nearby Mills River, North Carolina, totaled 26 digs to go along with a career-high seven service aces for Brevard.
Piedmont's offense was paced by Jenna Ash, Brianna King, and Jaclyn Sampson, who all totaled 10 kills apiece. Vanessa Manzo dished out 24 assists, while Jessica Bell added 29 digs on the defensive side.
BC was able to jump out to the early 4-0 lead in the first set thanks to a pair of Lance service aces. The Lions were able to battle back, tying the set score on six different occasions before a massive 12-2 Tornado scoring run propelled BC up to a 21-12 advantage. The Tornados wrapped up the first set comfortably, 25-17, sending the match to the second set.
Piedmont was able to flip the script in set number two, battling back from an early deficit to eventually tie the set, 16-16, following a Sampson kill. The Lions took their first lead on a King service ace, as the two sides battled back and forth, leaving the second set tied up at 22 points each. Piedmont used three-straight points on a Tornado attack error, kill, and service ace to claim the second set, 25-22, tying the match up at 1-1.
The Lions used that momentum from the second set to build an early lead by as many as seven points, 14-7. Brevard was able to battle back, however, chipping away at Piedmont's lead before eventually tying the set at 21-21, as consecutive kills by Parkins and Pressley tied the score up. Pressley notched another kill that was followed by a Lion attack error, pushing BC's newfound lead to a 23-21 margin. With the score 23-22 following a Piedmont kill, BC used a Lion attack error followed by a Lance service ace to take a 2-1 match lead after a come-from-behind third set victory, 25-22.
A fourth set featuring 10 ties and three lead changes ensued, as the Tornados and Lions would jockey back-and-forth. With the score 11-9 in favor of Piedmont, Brevard used five consecutive points to take their first lead of the set, 14-11, behind another pair of Lance service aces. The Lions were able to retake the lead as both sides battled through a pivotal fourth set that the Tornados were able to tie up multiple times. Piedmont held a 21-19 lead before two-consecutive Pressley kills tied the score at 21-all. Ash was able to answer back for the Lions with a kill of her own, putting the set at 22-21 in favor of PU, but the Tornados were able to come through when it mattered most. Pressley and Parkins answered right back with two straight kills before a Piedmont attack error left Brevard within match point, 24-22. Pressley would drive home her 19th kill of the match off a Priddy assist to wrap up the contest in favor of Brevard, 3-1.
The Tornados will return to action on Saturday, traveling to Montgomery, Alabama for a USA South tri-match against Berea College and host Huntingdon College. Brevard will take on Berea first at 3 p.m. ET before a 5 p.m. ET matchup vs. the Hawks.
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-BC-