MOUNT BERRY, Ga.- A grueling night on the court saw No. 12 Berry end their opening day at the Berry Kick-Off with an 0-2 overall record, playing a total of 10 close sets against respectful opponents.
Game One: Washington and Lee 3 - Berry 2
Despite
Blakely Barnes big freshman debut leading the team in kills, the Vikings fell just short in a close match with the Generals to open up their 2024 season.
Berry came out hot in set one, taking down the Generals 25-17.
With some back and forth play to shake off the new season jitters, the Vikings finally went on a four-point streak to create some separation in the set as
Lura Underwood scored the 14
th point of the set.
Set two was again claimed by Berry at 25-19, this time going down 7-6 to the Generals before a six-point run to take the lead.
Berry looked ready to sweep the Generals in the home opener going up quickly 5-1 in set three, but the Generals found some momentum on the Vikings home court to fight back and make it a nail bitter at 19-20 (Berry). A six-point run, this time from Washington and Lee, solidified the Generals third set win to push to four.
Coming off their momentum from set three, W&L held tight in another close set match taking down the Vikings once again 25-23.
In a race to 15, Berry held lead at 10-8, but four straight from the Generals quieted the home crowd and the Generals defeated Berry 3-2 for the match.
Game Two: Hardin-Simmons 3 - Berry 2 --Â
Bradynn Belcher
The Vikings did not show many signs of life in the first set of the late-night match. Falling to an early 5-1 deficit against the Cowgirls, the Vikings learned an important opening weekend lesson that no opponent should be underestimated.
Two decisive kills by sophomore Keira Kruk fused with Berry's ability to capitalize on the Cowgirls' errors restored some of the lost energy back on to the light blue team's side of the court. The Vikings chased the Cowgirls' spurs until a monstrous block by reigning All-American Bella Boston and Cypress Guenther gave the Vikings their first advantage of the game at 12-11. Their lead could not stick as the Cowgirls rallied to regain momentum, and the Vikings fell 25-23 in the first set.
The gutting feeling of being down 1-0 in their own gym relinquished an un-before seen wave of aggression from the Viking offense. A newfound speed from Berry allowed them to quickly tally four kills and two service aces early in the set. The Vikings stunned the Cowgirls by climbing to a quick 12-3 lead. With nine kills and four service aces, the Vikings restored life back into The Cage, taking the set 25-20 and tying the match at 1-1.
The Hardin-Simmons volleyball team jumped on top in the third set by beginning with a service ace that barely clipped the white line. Though fans began to trickle out when the clock hit 10:30 p.m., the gym felt like it was packed as the competition and intensity between the two foes grew. Though the Cowgirls out killed the Vikings 16-8, Berry's relentless attacks and strategic ball movement kept them in the game. With a score of 20-17 in favor of Hardin-Simmons, Berry head coach Caitlyn Moriarty called a time out in hopes of curbing the momentum. However, the Vikings were unable stump the cunning purple team's offensive prowess, dropping a set for the fifth time of the night with a score of 25-21.
In a win or go home situation, the Vikings pressed on the Cowgirls' hooves and did not let up for the entirety of the fourth set. Like a new team, the Vikings shoved ball after ball in the faces of their opponents. Kruk and Boston singlehandedly set the tone for this set by tallying seven kills amongst the pair. Turning the tides and out killing their opponents 16-8, the Vikings soared to victory at 25-12, forcing a winner take all fifth set.
It was well past 11:00 p.m., but neither team showed signs of fatigue. Both sides were looking to secure their first win of the season, and for the first half of the final set, it appeared that the Vikings would leave victorious, especially as the Cowgirls were unable to adapt to the sorcery that Andrea Hurt was expunging on the volleyball for three consecutive service aces. With a score of 7-6, this would be the last time that Berry was in the driver's seat. The Vikings surrendered the final set 15-13.
Kruk double-doubled with 14 kills and 12 digs. Boston and Lura Underwood tallied 14 and nine kills, respectively, with Underwood adding an additional 15 digs to her stat sheet. Kate Whittle accumulated an impressive 20 digs in her second match of the day.
Berry will be back in action on September 6 at 2:00 p.m. EST against the University of Northwestern in St. Paul, Minn.
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