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Volleyball rallies from 2-0 down to topple Bryan in five sets
By Matt Green
DAYTON, Tenn. -- Tori Bradley had 14 kills, Jordan Corder dished out 50 assists and Tanequa Whitman registered a career-high 27 digs as Shorter fought back from a 2-0 match deficit to stun Bryan College (Tenn.) 24-26, 22-25, 25-13, 25-12, 15-6 on Wednesday night in Dayton, Tenn.
Jasmine Crook finished with 13 kills, Loren Olive with 11 and Jessica Cooper with 10 for the Lady Hawks, who improved to 6-0 with the victory. It was the first time this season that Shorter had been taken to five sets.
The Lady Hawks squandered leads of 9-4 and and 22-17 in dropping the first set and fell behind 22-12 in the second set before a late rally fell short and sent the Lions (2-7) to a commanding two sets to none advantage.
But Shorter found its groove in the third set, scoring 14 of the final 16 points in the frame to score a 25-13 victory then using a 13-2 run midway through the fourth set en route to cruising to a 25-12 decision and leveling the match at two games apiece.
In the fifth and final set, Meghan Weller notched two service aces during a 6-0 run that helped the Lady Hawks race out to a 7-1 advantage. Olive recorded consecutive kills and Cooper another to extend Shorter's lead to 10-2 and Bradley's 14th and final kill of the match completed Shorter's comeback attempt by sealing the 15-6 fifth set triumph.
Shorter managed to emerge victorious despite struggling somewhat at the net. The Lady Hawks hit just .167 -- well below their season average entering the match -- and committed 30 attacking errors, but used 13 aces and a tremendous defensive performance from Whitman, Olive (16 digs) and Weller (11 digs) to keep the winning streak alive.
The Lady Hawks return to action this weekend, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9 and 10, when they travel to Georgetown, Ky., for the Rumpke Invitational.
