ATLANTA, Ga. - The Panthers started off their conference schedule strong last weekend with three wins. Birmingham-Southern looked to extend those wins into this second weekend. Kennedy Dickens and Alyssa Coats led the team in kills with 14 and 13, respectively. Leah Nielsen and Gigi Fields led the team in blocks with seven and six, respectively. 

Birmingham-Southern took the early lead over the Petrels at 9-5, before Oglethorpe made a comeback to tie up set one at 11-11. A block from Gigi Fields and Leah Nielsen, and a kill from Nielsen, pushed the Panthers to a 15-13 lead. The Petrels took one point from BSC, but the Panthers followed up by going on a six point run to make it 21-14. The set ended with a kill from Kennedy Dickens as BSC took the set, 25-17.

Set two started off similar to the first set with Birmingham-Southern taking the early lead at 6-4, before Oglethorpe took the next four to take the lead. A kill from Leah Nielsen put the Panthers only one point behind the Petrels at 11-10. Oglethorpe found their momentum and took the next five points to make it a six point lead in their favor. Falling behind 20-13, Birmingham-Southern found some fight and made it a two point game at 20-18, with kills from Alyssa Coats and Gigi Fields. Even with their comeback and fight, the Panthers were unable to take set two and the Petrels won it 25-20. 

Looking to makeup for the loss in set two, BSC fought an even set in the third with a lead midway through the set. Kills from Leah Nielsen, an ace from Abby Dunford and a block from Rominey Willner and Leah Nielsen put the Panthers agead 12-9. Oglethorpe was able to find their fight and take back the lead 17-16 over BSC. Not done with their own fight, the Panthers battled it out with the Petrels in plus twenty play. Set three ended in a win for the Panthers 25-23. 

Building on their momentum, BSC took an early 4-1 lead after two blocks from the Panthers. They extended the lead to 7-6 after a kill from Kennedy Dickens. Fighting hand in hand for the lead, these two teams were not willing to give it up. With set four being tied at 10-10, back to back blocks from Gigi Fields and Leah Nielsen put the Panthers ahead 14-11. The even play continued until Birmingham-Southern took the lat four out of five points to end the set and match in a victory. 

Records
#23 Birmingham-Southern 10-2 (4-0 SAA), Oglethorpe 6-5 (1-3 SAA)

Set Summary
SET ONE: 25-17 Birmingham-Southern
SET TWO: 25-20 Oglethorpe
SET THREE: 25-23 Birmingham-Southern
SET FOUR: 25-18 Birmingham-Southern

Up next
The Panthers will play Sunday, September 25 at 11 a.m. in Rome, Ga. to take on Berry College.