MOUNT BERRY, Ga.- The No. 10-ranked Berry Vikings defeated Rhodes College (9-15, 2-11 SAA) in three sets (25-13, 25-14, 25-21) in game one of the Southern Athletic Association conference tournament. Veteran setter, Emily Rapach reached another milestone setting up 3,000 career assists on Friday evening.
            The Viking offense flourished as they put up 46 kills on the night. Innis led the team with 14 kills, hitting .500, also adding on the double-double with 16 digs. Rapach had 39 assists, and Kate Whittle had 25 digs in the back row.
Berry took the first set 25-14, holding the Lynx to only six kills. The Vikings (21-4, 13-1 SAA) claimed five straight points at the beginning of the first set to take a 8-3 lead.Peyton Breissinger laid down a kill in the back corner separating themselves even further 14-6 sending the Cage Center on their feet. Olivia Mallow got a piece putting down a kill, continuing the comfortable lead of 20-12.
            The Vikings took the second set 25-13, capitalizing off nine attack errors from Rhodes. Jazzy Innis aced Rhodes midway through the set pushing them further up the scoreboard 14-7. Three straight kills from three different Vikings sealed the second set victory.
            Berry got the chance to show off their depth in the third set, the game one victory 25-21. With their season on the line, Rhodes was able to tie up Berry 10-10, and take their first lead of the game 11-10. But three straight kills put the Vikings back where they needed to be. The Lynx managed to tie up Berry yet again, but freshman Laura Underwood put down her sixth kill of the set giving her team the lead back for good. Zoe Wooten put down the 46th kill of the night for Berry, sealing the victory.
             Berry will face Oglethorpe on Saturday for the semifinal round starting at 6 p.m. in the Cage Center.