Chloe Johnson and Sami Wasmund were forces at the net for the Briar Cliff women's volleyball team, as they earned a season-opening sweep over Southwestern Friday night in the Newman Flanagan Center. The duo combined for 23 kills and five blocks on day one of the Charger Invite.
 
"I'm very excited for this team to get their first win at home in front of our home crowd," said head coach Lindsey Weatherford. "Set two showed our team's grit and determination, after being down 20-14 and coming back to win the set."
 
The Chargers opened set one with three straight points with kills from Chloe and Alexis Johnson. The Moundbuilders made an early run, taking a 9-6 lead. Back-to-back kills from Chloe Johnson started a 5-0 BC run to take an 11-9 edge. With the game tied at 13-13, the Chargers took control of the set with an 8-0 run and closed it out with an Alexis Johnson kill. 
 
In a back-and-forth set two, Southwestern took a 20-14 edge late. A block from Toria Andre and Alexis Johnson began a 6-1 spurt that brought BC within one point. Chloe Johnson and Tannah Heath accounted for five of the Cliff's last six points, with four kills and an ace as BC took set two 26-24. 
 
It was a quick start for BC in set three, taking an 8-2 advantage early and extending their lead to seven halfway through set. Southwestern pulled within three points late, but the Chargers would end the set and earn the sweep on a Wasmund and Olivia Petersen block. 
 
Chloe Johnson totaled 16 kills on 34 attempts for a .441 hitting percentage to go with 12 digs and one ace. Wasmund recorded seven kills, a .375 hitting percentage and four blocks.
 
"Chloe Johnson was the spark for us tonight," said Weatherford. "She has been very consistent in her training and her hard work showed up on the court tonight!"
 
Tannah Heath dished out a team-high 32 assists and had 20 digs with one ace. Abbey Jones tallied 14 digs and four assists. 
 
BC had the edge in kills 45-28, blocks 10-0, assists 40-25 and hitting percentage .242-.038.
 
The Chargers will be back in the NFC for day two of the Charger Invite. BC faces Valley City State at 12:00 p.m. and Mount Mercy at 4:00 p.m.