JACKSON, Miss. - Finishing off their long week of road games, the Panthers took their conference opener in a quick three set match against Millsaps College. Looking to start off their conference play strong, the Panthers and Majors played a close first set, but Birmingham-Southern found their groove shortly after to take the next two sets with ease. 

Gigi Fields started off the first set for the Panthers with back to back kills to take the first two points. Even though the Panthers started off first, the Majors were the ones to take the true early lead. They held Birmingham-Southern at 8-4 before the Panthers were able to come back and make it 12-10 in their favor. BSC went on small two to three point runs consistently throughout the set, even boasting a large 21-14 lead. The Majors found their fight and took the next six out of eight points to decrease the lead, making it 23-20 and even after the Panthers made it to set point, the Majors held them there for four points to tie it up. An impressive fight by the Majors, but the Panthers were able to take the next two with kills from Kennedy Dickens and Ainsley Schultz to win set one 26-24.

Birmingham-Southern came out with some fire in the second set as they held an early 10-6 lead after a kill from Rominey Willner started a four point run. Kills from Gigi Fields and Ainsley Schultz, and back to back errors from the Majors made it 15-8 for the Panthers. Continuing their efforts, Birmingham-Southern extended their lead 20-10 with an ace from Ainsley Schultz. Ultimately, errors were the downfall for Millsaps as BSC took set two 25-17. 

The Panthers looked to complete the sweep in set three with an early 8-2 lead with four kills and a service ace. Birmingham-Southern took the next eight out of ten points to boast an impressive 10 point lead after a kill from Alyssa Coats made it 15-5. The Panthers continued their dominant play and holding their lead at 18-11 before going on a five point run. Rominey Willner added a kill and a block with Kennedy Dickens into that run. Pushing to the end, the last two points were won by the Panthers with a kill from Kennedy Dickens and another error from the Majors. BSC swept the match with a 3-0 victory to start off their conference season. 

Records
#25 Birmingham-Southern 7-2 (1-0 SAA), Millsaps 4-5 (0-1 SAA)

Set Summary
SET ONE: 26-24 Birmingham-Southern
SET TWO: 25-17 Birmingham-Southern
SET THREE: 25-14 Birmingham-Southern

Up next
The Panthers will continue their conference season with their next home game against Rhodes College on Saturday, September 17 at 12 p.m.