MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - No. 5 Berry rallied to force a decisive fifth set, but ultimately fell to Centre, 3-2 (25-23, 26-24, 21-25, 20-25, 15-11), Saturday afternoon in Southern Athletic Association action from the Cage Center.
Berry committed 16 attack errors across the first two sets, but still had chances to pull out both. However, the third set saw the Vikings limit the errors. Berry swung at a clip of .296 in the third frame thanks to 13 kills and just two errors as the home side took the third set 25-21.
In the fourth set, the Vikings (13-3, 9-1 SAA) really found their groove offensively, hitting .516 with 17 kills and just one error as a team.
Olivia Mallow upped her total to a career-high eight total blocks through the fourth set as Berry took the frame 25-20.
The hill would be too high to overcome, however, as the Vikings had five attack errors to go with just six kills in the decisive set. Berry led 10-7, but Centre (15-5, 6-3 SAA) scored eight of the final nine points to take the win.
Peyton Breissinger had 16 kills and 20 digs for a double-double, with
Jazzy Innis adding her own with 14 kills and 14 digs.
Emily Rapach had 52 assists and 11 digs for the third Berry double-double of the match, with Mallow setting a season-high in kills with 11.
Berry will be back in action this Tuesday when it plays host to No. 7 Emory. First serve is set for 7 p.m.