The Oglethorpe volleyball team fell 3-0 to in-state rival Berry in a midweek SAA match in the Schmidt Center Wednesday evening. The Stormy Petrels played their opponents virtually even in the first set but the visiting Vikings took control as the match moved to the second and third stanzas. The loss drops the Petrels to 5-15, 0-8 in SAA play.

The opening set proved to be very competitive, with the Petrels opening up a small early lead, 6-4, after a four-point run. After Berry came back to build an 8-7 advantage, the two teams traded points for much of the remainder of the set. The Vikings pushed out to a 17-13 lead, though, and were able to extend that to 22-16 late in the set. However, the Petrels came back with five consecutive points to pull to within one, 23-22. From there, Berry finished off the stanza, though, taking a 25-22 decision.

In the second, Berry jumped to a 4-1 lead but the Petrels bounced right back with a 5-1 mini-run to push into the lead, 6-5. The Vikings responded with a 9-3 run, building a 14-9 edge. Three straight points brought Oglethorpe back to within two, but Berry then embarked on an 11-3 run to round out the set 25-15.

The Petrels had a very early 3-1 lead in the third, but Berry came back to build an advantage and slowly pushed it out to a significant lead. They used a 19-8 spurt to build a 20-11 edge late in the set. Oglethorpe came back to cut the Berry lead to six points, 23-17, but the Vikings finished the set with back-to-back points after that, taking it 25-17 and sweeping the match.

Three Petrels recorded seven kills in the match, as freshmen outside hitters MaryAnn Smith, Santreece Stephens and Anna Rash combined for 21 of the team's 34 kills. Rash also recorded 10 digs while freshman defensive specialist Savannah Grove led the team with 14. Freshman setter Hannah Masiongale passed out 24 assists.

"I was pleased with our passing, which allowed us offensive attempts," said Head Coach Richie Tang. "We stayed relatively close to Berry in the first set, but were hurt by our inability to make Berry make additional passes. Overall, we hit well and we managed the game the way we wanted. The difference was a handful of momentum-killing plays. We've been saying in our practices that it's one thing to come close and another to beat your opponent. We have to take advantage of opportunities, whether we create them or they are given to us."

The Petrels continue SAA play this weekend when they welcome Centre and Sewanee to the Schmidt Center. Oglethorpe will take on the Colonels at 2 p.m. Saturday before turning around and going against the Tigers at 1 p.m. Sunday.