Jazzy Innis had a match-high 17 kills to go with 12 digs and four total blocks to help No. 11 Berry to a 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-23, 25-16) victory over No. 8 Transylvania Friday night in Lexington, Ky., as part of the Transy Invite.
The Vikings (1-0) gained a slight measure of revenge from the loss that ended the 2022 campaign in the NCAA Round of 16 at Transylvania. As a team, Berry hit .268 for the match and held the hosts to a .116 clip thanks in part to 11.5 total blocks.
The teams split the first two sets, with the third proving to give the needed momentum to Berry to win the match in four. The third set would feature eight ties, with the final one coming at 23-all. A kill by
Bella Boston would give Berry a set point opportunity, and
Lura Underwood would deliver the final kill of the frame to give the Vikings the set, 25-23.
A 6-0 run sparked by an
Olivia Mallow kill gave Berry a 9-4 lead in the final set. The lead would swell to nine, 15-6, after another successful Boston attack. The lead hit double-digits when a block by Underwood and Lily Teagle made it 17-7, and the Vikings would go on cruise control from there. Innis' final kill of the night would give Berry match point at 24-15, and two points later, an attack error by the Pioneers (0-1) gave Berry the match.
Lindsay MacDiarmid finished the night with 39 assists in guiding Berry's offense.
The Vikings will be back in action Saturday morning in Lexington as they face No. 7 Calvin.
