DANVILLE, Ky. – Centre volleyball extended its winning streak to five game after defeating the Birmingham-Southern Panthers in a wild five-set battle. The victory was the first by Centre over BSC since the 2014 season, snapping a losing skid of 14 consecutive matchups.
 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
 
- The Colonels grabbed an early lead in the first set thanks to consecutive aces by Lily Hendricks. Centre extended their lead to 19-13 before BSC chipped away and forced extra points as they tied the score at 24-24. The Colonels responded as an ace from Emily Gardner give Centre a 26-24 win.
- In the second set, Centre once again jumped out to the early advantage and held it most of the way. The Panthers rallied to take the lead at 18-17, but an ace by Madi Barron put Centre back on top and they kept the lead as Ellie Driver, playing the game of her career, put the finishing touches on a 25-21 win.
- The Panthers took early leads in each of the next two sets and held the Colonels at bay, winning by scores of 25-20 and 25-23 to force the match into a decisive fifth set.
- Centre quickly regained the momentum in the fifth set as Driver came through with two clutch kills during a 5-0 rally in the early stages. BSC pulled to within two points on three separate occasions, but they could get no closer as Isabel Thornton capped off a career day with a kill to seal the 15-10 victory and the match for the Colonels.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
- Driver and Thornton's respective kill totals of 18 and 16 each represented career highs. Brooke Palmer added 12 kills while Katie Hall finished with 11.
- Gardner led the way for Centre with 36 assists, while Meredith Phillips added 20.
- Madi Barron finished with a game high 27 digs, with Gardner and Hendricks each finishing in double digits in digs.
- The Colonels hit .692 as a team in the fifth set.
 
NEXT UP
 
Centre volleyball will be on the road for the next three games, beginning with a contest at Hanover on Thursday.