The Briar Cliff volleyball team fell 0-3 in their season opener Friday to Valley City State in Orange City, Iowa.
 
Toria Andre secured the first point of the 2023 season with a kill off an assist from Olivia Corey. The Vikings were the first to 10 points, but a four-point swing with a pair of kills from Andre and an Avery Beller ace gave BC a 13-12 lead.
 
In her first game in the Blue and Gold, Makynna Snow got out to a hot start by putting down six kills in the opening set. Andre matched Snow with six kills of her own.  
 
After the score was tied at 13-13, neither team could build a lead past two points, until a six-point run put the Vikings at set point. A 5-1 Charger swing, with a pair of kills from Snow, would bring the contest tied at 25-all. The Vikings took the first set 27-25, after back-to-back points.
 
Valley City State jumped out to an 8-3 lead early in set two. However, following a Briar Cliff timeout, four different Chargers recorded a kill as they scored five straight points. The Chargers took a 14-12 lead following an Olivia Corey ace, but it was all Vikings after that. Valley City State outscored BC 13-2 to end the second set by a score of 25-16.
 
The Chargers fell behind early in set three, 14-6, and tried to build momentum following a 5-2 run that saw kills from Andre, Snow and Sami Wasmund. The Vikings, however, would close out the contest 25-14.
 
Avery Beller, the Chargers libero, led all players with 24 digs to along with one ace and one assist.
 
"Avery played well today and was in the right spots on defense," said head coach Lindsey Weatherford. "She was able to put us in positions to get our hitters success."
 
Andre led the Cliff with 12 kills on an efficient .417 hitting percentage. Snow totaled 11 kills on 38 attacks and had three digs. Reese Strouth added three kills and three assists.
 
"Toria was consistent in set one and her setters were able to feed her regularly," said Weatherford. "She did a good job of scoring points throughout the match. Some of our new faces, Reese and Makynna, were very consistent throughout the match, and were able to put away balls when we needed to score. Isabelle Lenz and Kiersten Baker came in off the bench and worked hard and were productive in set three for us."
 
The Chargers will back at the Bultman Center in Orange City, Iowa tomorrow for a matchup with Dakota State at 2:00 p.m.