The Briar Cliff volleyball team took a five-set match over Dordt Wednesday night to earn their first GPAC victory of the season. It was the Chargers first win over Dordt since October 22, 2014.
 
"I said last week that our five-set match with Mayville State was going to be good experience in the long run for our team," said head coach Lindsey Weatherford. "That experience was invaluable as we started the fifth set tonight. Tonight's match was a game of ups and downs and a game of momentum. I'm very proud of our team for sticking together and working hard together to take down Dordt. It really took a full team effort tonight."
 
After falling in the first set, the Chargers took a closely contested set two 25-23. Briar Cliff hit .140 in the set with 14 kills and held Dordt to a .095 swing rate. BC pulled away late in the set after a 7-1 run gave them a 20-15 lead.
 
Dordt raced out to a 9-1 lead in the third set, and as the Chargers chipped away at the lead, their comeback effort fell short 22-25.
 
The momentum swung late in the fourth set in favor of the Chargers, as Yenne Schepers held serve during a 10-1 BC run. Schepers totaled three aces during the run and Dordt committed six errors with a pair of blocks from Toria Andre and Makynna Snow. BC pushed the match to a fifth set, 25-19, following a Dordt error.
 
Dordt held an 8-5 lead as the two teams swapped sides in the final set. Schepers again held serve during a lengthy BC run, as the Blue and Gold scored seven of the final eight points to close out the 15-11 set win.
 
Briar Cliff hit .092 on the night, compared to .106 for the Defenders, but recorded more blocks 11-8. Toria Andre led the way with seven blocks, while contributing nine kills on a .231 hitting percentage.
 
Schepers had a team high four service aces to go with 18 assists. Olivia Corey had a team high 22 assists.
 
"Avery Beller continues to out dig teams and put herself in a place to make great plays on the ball," said Weatherford. "Sami Wasmund and Toria Andre continue to lead our terminators on the offensive end. The team effort on defense also included our defenders that put up some huge blocking numbers. Those are things we have been working on in practice and it's nice to see it translating to competitive play."
 
Wasmund totaled nine kills with five blocks, while Georgianna Wenzel, Kiersten Baker and Reese Strouth all recorded five. Beller had a game high 24 digs.
 
The Chargers face McPherson Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. in McPherson, Kansas.