Balanced Attack Leads Pioneers to Sweep at Bluefield

Bluefield, Va. – A balanced attack powered the Spartanburg Methodist College volleyball team to a 25-10, 28-26, 25-23 sweep of host Bluefield on Saturday.

The Pioneers (10-15, 5-7 AAC) were led by Braelynn Brewington with eight kills. Makinnley Smart added seven, while Aurora Aho, Kendall Meinders, and Leilani Campbell each tallied six. Hana Vucinic chipped in five.

Setters Brook Noe and Tristan Craine directed the offense with 17 and 13 assists, respectively. Defensively, Vucinic collected 15 digs and Aho added nine.

"I'm really proud of the way our team came out today," said SMC head coach Makayla Holcombe. "We showed a lot of fight and grit to close it out in three sets. It was a great way to bounce back and refocus as we prepare for our next match."

Bluefield (7-9, 3-9 AAC) also showed balance offensively, as Chesed Russell, Rachel Saasson, and Gawell each recorded seven kills. Devry Lausch paced the Rams with three service aces, while Camille Gonzalez, Sienna Vitelli, and Izabella Lechuga added two apiece.

A key factor in SMC's victory was its dominance at the net. The Pioneers totaled 11 blocks, led by Campbell with four and supported by Vucinic, Brewington, and Smart with two each.

Next up, SMC returns home to host Truett McConnell on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. inside Bridges Arena.

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