BRIDGEWATER, Va. (BC Athletics) – Nationally recognized Bridgewater women’s volleyball found a way and nailed a five-set win over Southern Virginia at home Tuesday night.

Score: Bridgewater (BC) 3, Southern Va. (SVU) 2
Records: BC (20-2), SVU (9-9)

How It Happened
In what started out as a full offensive barrage to begin the match for the Eagles, the SVU Knights settled in and battled their way back to force a five setter. In the opening set, it was all Eagles. BC rolled to a massive six-point burst as Reagan Stoop and Claire Griffith paired up to pound consecutive kills. They continued to surge ahead. The Eagles then shaped up a seven-point boost to safely secure the first set at 25-10.

The Eagles stayed with the Knights in the second set even with attempted momentum surges. SVU began with a 3-0 early lead but was quickly snuffed out as BC responded effectively. The Knights put up a stellar 11-4 advantage until BC came soaring. Effective and short burst offensive pushes helped keep the Crimson & Gold close and later claimed the lead at 22-21 as Maecy Ann Frizzelle belted a rocket to find open hardwood. Griffith sounded out the second set to take a 25-21 set score.

However, even with a 2-0 set lead, the Knights did not quit. SVU pieced together a strong 14-11 lead after a five-point rally and only gave up the lead once the entire set. SVU took the third set, 25-23.

Another back-and-forth set took hold in the fourth set. The Knights grabbed an early edge to start out the set but then the Eagles answered back to claim the lead at 14-12 with a Sarah Furst strike. However, SVU harnessed a strong momentum swing that could not be stopped, and the Eagles were forced to extend the match to five sets with a 25-19 fourth set score.

The Eagles pushed ahead first with an early 3-0 lead. The Knights answered with a four-point consecutive streak. That did not stop the fighting Eagles from finally finding the edge they were looking for, ripping off a commanding six-point scoring run. Despite a hustled comeback rally, the Eagles closed the door as Frizzelle smacked the game-winning point for a 15-12 fifth-set victory.

Match Notes
– Bridgewater led in all offensive categories with 76 points, 60 kills, 13 service aces and 57 assists.
– Reagan Stoop dominated both sides offensively and defensively with a double-double of 22 kills and 14 digs.
– Lindsay Kelley smashed a single-match career-high 50 assists in the five-set win.
– Marlee Backover led the match with 17 digs

Up Next
The Eagles are back in action tomorrow, Oct. 28 for senior night against Hollins at 6 p.m.

— BC Athletics —