Blue Mountain College

Bowling Green, KY- Blue Mountain Christian Volleyball wrapped up play at the Vette City Classic on Saturday, battling Tennessee Wesleyan through five sets in the morning before closing out the tournament against Pikeville (Ky.).
The Volley Toppers opened the day with their second five-set match in as many days, going the distance with Tennessee Wesleyan before the Bulldogs came away with a 3-2 decision (22-25, 25-20, 26-24, 19-25, 15-8).
BMCU got off to a strong start, holding Tennessee Wesleyan to a .000 hitting percentage in the opening frame on the way to a 25-22 victory.
The Bulldogs responded in the second set, taking it 25-20 to even the match before the two sides went back and forth in a tightly contested third. 
BMCU put down 15 kills and hit .273 in the frame, but Tennessee Wesleyan was able to edge the Volley Toppers 26-24 to move ahead 2-1.
Blue Mountain Christian responded once again in the fourth. 
The Volley Toppers recorded 15 kills and hit .226 while their defense held Tennessee Wesleyan to a .069 hitting percentage. 
BMCU pulled away for a 25-19 victory, sending the match to a deciding fifth set.
Tennessee Wesleyan found its rhythm offensively in the final frame, hitting .409 to take the set 15-8 and close out the five-set battle.
The Volley Toppers finished the match with plenty of positives on both sides of the net, outhitting Tennessee Wesleyan .219 to .178 while holding a 9-5 advantage in blocks.
Salice Speed led the BMCU attack with 18 kills while also contributing four service aces and 17 digs. 
Marissa Gerleman followed with 16 kills and seven blocks, while Elle Clayton added eight kills.
Mattie Hopper joined Gerleman with seven blocks as BMCU turned in a strong performance at the net. Sydney Tague dished out 24 assists, and Brenyn Wilbanks added 21.
Defensively, Abbi Williams continued her strong start to the season by collecting a match-high 38 digs.
BMCU returned to the court later Saturday to face Pikeville, with the Bears taking the match in three sets (25-12, 25-22, 25-15).
After Pikeville took the opening frame, the Volley Toppers responded with their strongest offensive set of the match in the second. 
BMCU recorded 15 kills with just three attacking errors, hitting .333 in the frame and staying within striking distance throughout. 
Pikeville was able to hold off the Volley Toppers late, taking the set 25-22 before closing out the match in the third.
Gerleman led BMCU offensively with eight kills, while Valeria Velez added six and Hopper finished with five. 
Olivia Domino directed the offense with 21 assists, while Lillie Pate recorded two of BMCU's four service aces.
Williams led the defensive effort with eight digs, followed by Velez with seven and Speed with six. Olivia Lewis and Gerleman each contributed two blocks.
The Volley Toppers conclude their weekend in Bowling Green after four matches over two days at the Vette City Classic.
 
 
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