BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Finishing off the regular season at home calls for an emotional day and especially for those seniors who are recognized for their contribution and efforts within the program. Birmingham-Southern recognized their eight seniors and their senior manager before the match. Seniors Alyssa Coats and Gigi Fields led with 15 kills each. 

Oglethorpe took the first three points of set one, looking to take that early lead over BSC. An error from the Petrels started a hefty eight point run for the Panthers, with three kills in a row contributed from Kennedy Dickens. Gigi Fields added two kills of her own to that run and Abby Dunford threw in an ace for Birmingham-Southern to go up 8-3. A block from Leah Nielsen and Alyssa Coats pushed that lead to 11-8, but the Petrels fought back to take a lead of their own at 13-11. With Oglethorpe in the lead at 17-14, the Panthers changed up their momentum and took five straight to gain their lead back 19-17. Alyssa Coats and Kennedy Dickens contributed two kills each. Pushing the lead to 24-20, Oglethorpe held the Panthers off of set point twice before eventually falling 25-22, with Leah Nielsen ending the set in a kill. 

Set two started off with an early 5-1 lead for BSC. After allowing the Petrels to gain two more points, the Panthers took the next seven out of eight points to push their lead 12-4. Gigi Fields put three kills down during that run and added a block alongside Leah Nielsen. Once again the Petrels were able to sneak a point before BSC went on another run, this time taking six straight points to make it 18-5 in favor of the Panthers. Kills from Kylie Wilhelmi and Gigi Fields pushed the Panthers past point 20 and extended their lead 22-8. Alyssa Coats ended set two for Birmingham-Southern, taking it 25-10 over Oglethorpe. 

Birmingham-Southern took the lead in set three at 7-3, but was quickly turned around when Oglethorpe took the next six points to make a lead of their own at 9-7. The Panthers were able to tie it back up at 10-10. The Petrels did not take their foot off the gas, only allowing the Panthers to take a point or two at a time and holding their lead. Oglethorpe kept their lead until the end, taking set three 25-20 over the BSC. 

Keeping their momentum moving, the Petrels took a big 6-0 lead over the Panthers to start off set four. Birmingham-Southern continued to fight, but once again Oglethorpe only allowed one or two points at a time. The Panthers were able to get three in a row to make it 14-11 and close up the Petrels lead. The got even closer when two back to back errors from Oglethorpe put them only behind by two at 16-14. The Petrels were at set point 24-19 and the Panthers were able to hold them for three points, putting it at 24-22 but were unable to hold them off any longer and fell 25-22. 

Set five started off close with back and forth play and long rallies. The set was tied 4-4 and Kylie Wilhelmi helped push the Panthers to a 6-4 lead with a kill. Oglethorpe took the next two points and Kylie Wilhelmi once again helped, tying it back up at 8-8. The Petrels went on to take the next six points giving them match point at 14-8 and eventually taking the final set 15-9. 

Records
Birmingham-Southern 17-5 (11-3 SAA), Oglethorpe 13-9 (7-7 SAA)

Set Summary
SET ONE: 25-22 Birmingham-Southern
SET TWO: 25-10 Birmingham-Southern
SET THREE: 25-20 Oglethorpe
SET FOUR: 25-22 Oglethorpe
SET FIVE: 15-9 Oglethorpe

Up next
The Panthers will play their next match at the Emory National Invitational in Atlanta, Ga. on Friday, October 28 at 12 p.m. against Washington and Lee University.