ATLANTA, Ga. - The Panthers began the Emory National Invitational with two losses. Birmingham-Southern took on Washington and Lee University first, then #11 Emory who they previously beat earlier in the season. BSC had 11 total blocks as a team with Leah Nielsen and Gigi Fields both having 6 block assists each in their first match. 

Match one: The Panthers went up 5-3 in the first set and then pushed it to 8-5 with kills from Alyssa Coats and Ainsley Schultz, and a block from Leah Nielsen and Kylie Wilhelmi. Back to back kills from Leah Nielsen and Kylie Wilhelmi put the Panthers up 10-5. Birmingham-Southern was up 15-11 and Washington and Lee came back to make it 15-14, then three straight errors pushed the Panthers lead 18-14. The set was tied at 20-20 and Gigi Fields put down back to back kills to make it 22-20. BSC took set one 25-23 with a kill from Alyssa Coats that ended it. 
 
The second set started like the first with the Panthers holding a 5-2 lead to start things off. The Generals went on an 8 point run to take their lead 10-5. BSC then went on their own run to take the lead back, but the Generals followed suit with another run to make it 17-12. The Panthers were unable to fight back and ultimately fell 25-17. 

Set three was tied at 5-5 before the Panthers took the next 13 out of 16 points to take a massive 18-8 lead over the Generals. Gigi Fields added three more kills and a block with Leah Nielsen for Birmingham-Southern to go on a five point run, putting them two points away from ending set three. The Panthers took set three 25-15 over the Generals.  
 
The Panthers fought hard in the last two sets, both being very close sets with tight scores. The ultimately fell and lost the match 3-2.
 
Records
Birmingham-Southern 17-6 Overall (11-3 SAA), Washington and Lee 17-9 Overall (10-2 ODAC)
 
SET Summary 
SET ONE: 25-23 Birmingham-Southern
SET TWO: 25-17 Washington and Lee
SET THREE: 25-15 Birmingham-Southern
SET FOUR: 25-23 Washington and Lee
SET FIVE: 15-12 Washington and Lee
 
Match two: The Panthers lost in four sets to #11 Emory Eagles in their second match of the day. Kylie Wilhelmi led the team in kills with eight.
 
Birmingham-Southern had a team total of 33 kills, 8 blocks, and 53 digs. The Eagles outscored them with 7 aces, 52 kills, and 14 blocks as a team.
 
The Muskies dominated the match start to finish not allowing BSC to reach 20 points the first two sets. During the third set the Panthers showed fight and were able to take it 25-23. The fifth set ended with the Eagles not allowing the Panthers to reach 10 points and took the match 3-1. 
 
Records
Birmingham-Southern 17-7 Overall (11-3 SAA), #11 Emory 16-6 Overall (4-3 UAA)
 
SET Summary 
SET ONE: 25-18 Emory
SET TWO: 25-11 Emory
SET THREE: 25-23 Birmingham-Southern
SET FOUR: 25-8 Emory

Up next
The Panthers will play their next match at the Emory National Invitational on Saturday, October 29 at 12 p.m. against Randolph-Macon.