SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The Berry College volleyball team continued its strong start to Southern Athletic Association play with a 3-1 victory over Southwestern University Saturday afternoon at the Bell Center, winning 25-17, 25-23, 21-25 and 25-21. The Vikings improved to 9-2 overall and 3-0 in SAA play with the victory.
Berry came out strong in the opening set, taking an early lead behind kills from
Madie Whitehead,
Keira Kruk and
Cali Armstead. After Southwestern pulled within 6-4, the Vikings responded with another strong stretch, getting kills from Armstead and Kruk before a pair of Southwestern errors helped Berry build a 13-6 advantage. Berry continued to control the set at the net, with
Ava Brovet,
Maddie Dahl and Whitehead helping the Vikings extend their lead. A block from Dahl and Brovet made it 11-6, while another block from Kruk and Brovet pushed Berry ahead 12-6. The Vikings eventually built their largest lead at 23-17 before a Whitehead kill gave Berry set point. Harris then finished the set with a kill as Berry took the opener 25-17.
The second set was much closer, with the two teams trading points throughout the opening half. Berry received early contributions from Dahl,
Shelby Harris and Whitehead, while Kruk and
Elise Trimble added kills as the Vikings stayed within striking distance. Southwestern took an 8-5 lead, but Berry slowly worked its way back. A Kruk kill and a Trimble kill brought the Vikings within one at 9-8 before Berry tied the set at 9-9 on a kill from Armstead. Hurt and Dahl helped the Vikings move ahead, while Brovet and Whitehead continued to create scoring opportunities. Berry stretched the lead to 15-12 before a series of big plays pushed the Vikings ahead 19-13. Dahl added a kill, Whitehead followed with another, and Kruk answered with a kill to make it 20-15. Berry continued to hold off Southwestern late, with Kruk and Whitehead coming through with important kills before the Vikings closed out the set 25-23.
Southwestern answered in the third set, but Berry remained within reach throughout the set. The Vikings received early kills from Harris, Dahl and Whitehead while staying tied with Southwestern at 5-5 and again at 6-6. Southwestern eventually moved in front, but Berry continued to respond. Kruk delivered a kill to make it 9-9, followed by a Whitehead kill that tied the set again at 10-10. Berry later pulled even at 12-12 before Southwestern began to create separation. Whitehead answered with another kill and later recorded a service ace to tie the set at 15-15. Berry then used a strong defensive stretch to stay within one, with a block from Armstead and Kruk putting the Vikings ahead 18-17. Southwestern responded with a late run and eventually took the set 25-21 to force a fourth frame.
The fourth set was another back-and-forth battle, but Berry controlled the match late. The Vikings jumped ahead 3-0 to begin the set after consecutive kills from Whitehead and Harris. Whitehead added an ace before a Dahl block helped Berry take an 8-4 advantage. After Southwestern cut into the lead, Berry responded, Dahl and Kruk each recorded kills before England stepped to the service line and delivered back-to-back aces, giving Berry a 17-10 lead. Whitehead and Dahl continued to provide points at the net, while Berry's defense helped prevent Southwestern from putting together a large comeback. Southwestern did make a late push, cutting Berry's lead to 21-16 and eventually getting within 22-20. Berry answered with a kill from Dahl before another Southwestern error gave the Vikings a 24-20 advantage. After Southwestern earned another point, Berry finished the match on the next rally when a Southwestern service error gave the Vikings a 25-21 fourth-set victory and a 3-1 match win.
Whitehead led Berry with 19 kills while hitting .304 and added two service aces, three blocks and six digs. Dahl finished with 11 kills while hitting an impressive .588, along with one ace and four blocks. Kruk added eight kills and 12 digs, while Harris contributed seven kills, three blocks and 12 digs. Armstead finished with five blocks, while Brovet recorded 40 assists, four blocks and 11 digs while directing the Berry offense. England provided three service aces, including two during Berry's important fourth-set run. Hurt led the Vikings defensively with 29 digs, while Kruk and Harris each added 12. As a team, Berry finished with 50 kills, seven service aces, 12 blocks, 46 assists and 79 digs.
The Vikings improved to 9-2 overall and 3-0 in SAA play with the victory. Berry will look to improve on Tuesday, September 29 in a nonconference battle in Lookout Mountain, GA vs Covenant at 6:30 p.m.
