By: Genesis Leggett, Digital Content Supervisor

ROME, Ga. — It took the full five sets, but the No. 24 Berry College volleyball team won their 21st-straight regular-season match over a Southern Athletic Association (SAA) opponent on Friday night, besting the Birmingham-Southern Panthers 3-2.

Berry is now 8-2 overall and 4-0 in the SAA this season

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Berry claimed a back-and-forth opening set 25-23, hitting .163 as a team.
• Birmingham answered in the second and third sets, beating Berry 25-19 in both sets. Despite hitting .235 and .226, the Vikings struggled with the BSC serving attack as the Panthers collected seven service aces in sets two and three. 
• The Vikings rebounded and secured the win in the fourth and fifth sets scoring (25-22) and (15-12), respectively. Berry hit .312 and .296 in the final two sets. 
• The Vikings hit .240 in the match to Birmingham-Southern's .226.

BERRY STANDOUTS:

• Emily Hancock: 24 K, 20 D, 2 BLK, .279 K%
• Carson VanCampen: 11 K, 3 BLK, .292 K%
• Christina Goforth: 15 K, 8 D, 1 SA, BLK, .267 K%
• Laura Beier: 29 D

NOTABLES:

• Emily Hancock's 24 kills is the second-most in Berry history for a five-set match. Her performance trailed her own program record of 27 kills. 
• Laura Beier's 29 digs ranks fifth all-time for digs in a five-set match. 
• The Vikings have also won 19-straight matches at home dating back to October of 2016.

UP NEXT:

• The Vikings will host SAA opponent Millsaps College tomorrow at 12:00 p.m.