Ravens Volleyball showed no quit in a thrilling five-set match at home Friday night.
The Ravens downed the Evangel Valor 25-22, 21-25, 27-25, 17-25 and 15-13.
The Ravens needed some comeback magic in the decisive fifth set. The Valor took an 8-5 lead, but the Ravens regrouped during the timeout while the teams switched sides of the court. The momentum switched sides as well as the Ravens rattled off 6-straight points to take an 11-8 lead.
The Valor battled back, but with the Ravens needing 1 point to win, Regan Bruggeman made it happen with her 19th kill of the night to give the Ravens the 15-13 set win, and 3-2 match win.
The Ravens picked up a tight first-set to begin the night, downing the Valor 25-22. The tide turned after the Ravens called timeout down 19-17 late in the set. From that point, the Ravens outscored the Valor 8-3 to win the set.
Haley Cahill had back-to-back aces early in the set and Bruggeman closed out the set with the final 2 kills.
Despite the Ravens taking an early 8-4 lead, forcing an Evangel timeout in the second set, the Valor answered to level the match at 1-1. The Valor answered that early Ravens lead with 5-straight points and then the teams battled neck-and-neck for much of the set. The visitors then pushed ahead late in the set, earning a 25-21 win.
The Valor held a lead through a significant portion of the third set, but it was the Ravens who came away with the win. Evangel held a 23-20 lead, but the home side wouldn't back down, scoring 4-straight to move in front 24-23. The teams traded a few points, but the Ravens looked moved in front 26-25.
The tense third ended with a furious rally by both the Ravens and the Valor, including a diving save by the Ravens Cate Milroy. In the end, Evangel was called for a double hit, giving the Ravens a 27-25 win, and a 2-1 advantage in the set.
Evangel bounced back after dropping the third set, surging out to a 19-11 lead and taking the set 25-17 to force a fifth set, which the Ravens eventually won.
Friday night's match was the first to go all five sets for the Ravens this season, and they improved their record to 11-1 when winning the opening set. Joining Bruggeman in double-digit kills was Joslyn Lewis, who had 10. Mary Pat Taylor added 9 kills, and Haylie Dickerson and Maura Lickteig each had 7 kills. Haley Cahill had a team-high 27 assists and Marissa Mantz had 22. The Ravens had 9 team blocks.
The Ravens (13-5, 7-2) will hit the road for their next three matches, beginning with a trip to No. 10-ranked Park University on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
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