ROME, Ga. – In the second round of the Southern Athletic Association conference tournament the Birmingham-Southern volleyball team took down Hendrix 3-1 to make it to the championship game. The Panther volleyball team had 12 blocks and 8 aces as a team. 
 
The first set started off tied at 3-3 but soon jumped out to a 11-7 lead over the Warriors. The Panthers kept their lead going with a big block from Ansleigh Dailey and Leah Nielsen to make it 17-12. The Warriors fought back to make it a close 21-18. Birmingham-Southern ended the first set with a block from Alyssa Coats and Leah Nielsen at 25-20.  
 
The second set was tied at 6-6, before Hendrix jumped out to a 13-9 lead over the Panthers. Kills from Alyssa Coats, Gigi Fields and Kennedy Dickens gave the Panthers the next four out of five points to tighten up their deficit 14-13. The Warriors pushed their lead 18-13, but the Panthers once again fought back to make it 19-17. The Panthers eventually fell 25-21.
 
Birmingham-Southern dominated the third set winning 25-14. The Panthers jumped out to a 5-0 lead and didn't look back. The Warriors would try and fight back but the Panthers always had an answer. After a four point run by Hendrix late in the set, the Panthers responded with a six point run and won the set. 
 
With BSC up two sets to one, the fourth set was back and forth. Neither team went on a run longer than three points. The Panthers started to pull away late and won the set 25-17. 
 
With the win BSC will advance to their fifth straight SAA tournament championship game. 

Records
Birmingham-Southern 19-9 Overall (11-4 SAA), Hendrix 13-13 Overall (9-5 SAA)

SET Summary 
SET ONE: 25-20 Birmingham-Southern
SET TWO: 25-21 Hendrix
SET THREE: 25-14 Birmingham-Southern
SET FOUR: 25-17 Birmingham-Southern

Up next
The Panthers will play in the Finals of the Southern Athletic Association tournament on Sunday, November 7 at 12 p.m. central time against Berry.