Posted: Oct 30, 2022
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - The Brevard College volleyball team (6-21, 4-14 USAS) concluded its 2022 campaign with a resounding two-match sweep over conference opponents N.C. Wesleyan (9-19, 5-13 USAS) and Methodist (12-17, 6-12 USAS) on Saturday in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
With the season-ending sweep, the Tornados won three of their final five matches to round out the 2022 slate.
The two matches were part of the final USA South Conference quad-match of the season which took place on the campus of N.C. Wesleyan.
Both results also avenged earlier defeats to both opponents for the Tornados who have been on their self-professed "Revenge Tour" over the second half of the conference schedule. In their first meetings, BC lost to N.C. Wesleyan in five sets and fell to Methodist in four sets at a quad-match held October 8 in Buena Vista, Virginia.
Match One - Brevard 3, N.C. Wesleyan 0
Brevard jumped on host N.C. Wesleyan with a 25-18 first-set win to take an early 1-0 lead in the match. The second set was highly competitive with an ultimate 26-24 victory to take a 2-0 advantage. In the driver's seat, BC finished the job with a decisive 25-18 win in set three.
Makenna Parkins led all players on the court with 11 kills. Ashley Hoxit and Blair Nance each registered seven kills to add to the strong attack from the Tornados.
Kaitlyn Pressley was the main distributor with a match-high 23 assists. Libero Bailey Nance was BC's top defender on the back line with 12 digs.
The service game once again proved to be a strength for the Tornados as BC fired off 10 service aces on their opponent's home court. Six different Nados served an ace with Logan Priddy, Lance, Hoxit and Pressley each registering two service winners. Grace Pukas and Caelyn Murphy each recorded service aces for Brevard as well.
Match Two - Brevard 3, Methodist 2
While the first match of the day proved to be a three-set sweep for Brevard, the second match turned out to be a five-set dogfight between the Tornados and the Monarchs.
Brevard ran out to a 2-0 lead in sets after winning the opening stanza 25-23 and the second period 25-22. Methodist then came back with a 28-26 win in a marathon third set and a must-win situation for the Monarchs. Riding the momentum of the third set, Methodist then won set four 25-15 to force a dramatic fifth set.
BC finished the job with a 15-10 win in set five to give Brevard its second win of the day and avenge the defeat to Methodist earlier this month. It marked the second five-set win for BC over the past nine matches, having defeated Pfeiffer 3-2 on the road on October 12.
Parkins and Hoxit each recorded career-high kill totals in the five-set thriller. Parkins set a career-best with 24 kills to mark the second 20-plus kill total of her career. Earlier this season vs. Salem, the native of Marion, North Carolina registered 23 kills.
Hoxit's 21-kill performance in the win was the first 20-plus output in the career of the sophomore from Balsam Grove, North Carolina.
Pressley led the Tornados with a season-high 34 assists, the third 30-plus assist total of her career. The junior from Brevard, North Carolina also added 10 kills.
Lance led Brevard defensively with 31 digs. Priddy produced 17 assists and 12 digs, while Nance added seven kills.
The Tornados benefited from eight service aces once again coming from six different players. Pukas and Hoxit each hit on two serves, while Priddy, Pressley, Lance, and Caitlin Hagarty each delivered a service ace as well.
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-BC-