BLUEFIELD – It was Friday Night Lights in the Dome Gymnasium for women's volleyball. After falling behind two sets, the Rams forced a deciding fifth set and went on to claim the match.
The Tigers struck quickly, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first game and extended it to 8-1 when the Rams called time. Down by 10 the Rams rallied, scoring three points while Gabrielle Courtney was serving and pulled to within five midway through the opening game. It became a three-point game on Kailee Kay's kill. BC made it a two-point game, 19-17 and Brenau used its first time out. Brenau held on to win the first game 25-20.
Brenau jumped out to another large lead in game two, going ahead 10-1 before the Rams called time to regroup. BC scored a couple of points out of the time out but could not close the gap. A late rally brought the Rams back into the game. BC moved within three at 21-18, then to within two. Brenau pulled away and took the second game 25-19.
The Rams took their first lead of the match to open the third game and jumped out to a 12-point lead. The Rams clicked on all cylinders in game three and took it 25-10.
With their newly-found energy and enthusiasm the Rams took the early lead in the fourth game just as it had in the third but Brenau rallied to tie. The teams battled and the lead went back-and-forth until the Rams took a two-point lead. BC extended it to four at which time Brenau called time. The Tigers clawed back and eventually tied the game at 13. The Rams were aggressive at the net with Katie Kendrick and Kaleigh Barker, but the teams continued to battle each point and the lead went back-and-forth. A late charge gave Bluefield the 25-21 win and sent the match to the fifth game.
The deciding fifth game saw Bluefield get its first point on a kill by Bethany Mullins. The Rams scored the game's first three points and led 8-3 when the teams switched sides of the court for the final time. The Rams went on to win 15-4 and claim the match.
Kendrick and Barker each had 13 kills for Bluefield, while Camry McCroskey had 37 assists and 13 digs. Barker also had 13 digs. McCroskey, Barker, Kendrick and Christalyn Doig each had a pair of service aces.