BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – In their last game of the season at home, the Birmingham-Southern volleyball team beat Rhodes 3-1 on Senior Day. All three seniors shined tonight and played great games all around. Senior Shayla Hill lead the team in aces with 5 and in blocks with 8. 
 
The Lynx were ahead in the first set by a short 6-4, but the Panther got four straight points that put them ahead 8-6. After being tied up at 9-9, a great service run from Ansleigh Dailey prompted the Panthers push to 14-9 over the lynx. Birmingham-Southern took the next 11 out of 15 points and Emily Buhl put down an ace to give BSC set point. A ball handling error from the Lynx gave the Panthers set one at 25-13.
 
Set two was a back and forth battle between the Panthers and Lynx, starting off at a 5-5 tie. The Lynx jumped ahead to a 13-9 lead before two aces from Shayla Hill helped tie it back up 13-13. The Lynx took the next point, but Emily Buhl retaliated with a kill to tie it again and the Panthers continued their run to lead 17-14. One again the set was tied at 19-19, Birmingham-Southern took the next two points, but the Lynx did not give up their fight and took the lead at 23-21. Rhodes had set point at 24-23 but they could not capitalize and an error put it back at 24-24. Rhodes had set point two more times and BSC had it once before Rhodes took the second set 29-27.
 
The third set started off closer as Birmingham-Southern lead 8-7, but soon went on to take 6 out of the next 7 points to widen their lead 14-8. A kill from Taylor Bentley and service ace from Shayla Hill pushed the Panthers to 16-9. Emily Buhl had back to back kills that helped the lead get to 19-10. A service error from the Lynx gave Birmingham-Southern set point, but they were able to hold them off twice before yet another service ace allowed the Panthers the victory 25-15.
 
The Panthers took the first six points at the beginning of the fourth set with a service ace from Ansleigh Dailey and kills from Gigi Fields and Taylor Bentley. A kill and an ace from Shayla Hill extended the lead to 10-3. The Lynx took the next three points and a big block from Leah Nielsen and Emily Buhl stopped the run. The Lynx tried again to catch up but Leah Nielsen had a massive solo block that denied them. Eventually Rhodes tied the set back up at 15-15, but a four point run from the Panthers pushed back the lead to 19-15. BSC took set point at 24-20 but the Lynx held them for three points to make it 24-23. A massive kill from Gigi Fields ended the match and the Panthers took set four 25-23.

Words from the Seniors


Records
Birmingham-Southern 15-8 Overall (10-4 SAA), Rhodes 8-13 Overall (2-10 SAA)

SET Summary 
SET ONE: 25-13 Birmingham-Southern
SET TWO: 29-27 Rhodes
SET THREE: 25-15 Birmingham-Southern
SET FOUR: 25-23 Birmingham-Southern
 
News and Notes
> Shayla Hill had a career high 7 kills, 5 aces and 8 blocks
> Taylor Bentley had a career high 4 blocks
> Emily Buhl had career best 3 blocks, 8 digs and 3 aces
> Reilly Vought had a season best 3 blocks and 13 assists
> Second best team total blocks this season

Up next
The Panthers will travel to Atlanta, Ga. on Friday, October 29 to play Washington and Lee University at 12 p.m.