Brooklyn, NY----Despite battling until the final point, the Brooklyn College women's volleyball team fell to Sarah Lawrence College, 3-2 (26-24, 13-25, 27-25, 20-25, 5-15), at home on Thursday night. BC moves to 3-6 overall with the non-conference loss while the Gryphons improved to 11-1. Next Up: Brooklyn remains home for a non-conference makeup with Purchase College on Monday, October 5, at 6pm. Â
Brooklyn battled back from an early deficit in the opening set, eventually tying the score at 23-23. The Bulldogs then pulled ahead, 24-23, before Sarah Lawrence evened the score at 24-24. Brooklyn responded with consecutive points to secure the 26-24 victory.
Saule Okeke-Ziburkus led the Bulldogs with eight kills in the opening frame, while Olive Carroll added three kills. Malia Reyes contributed two kills and an ace, helping Brooklyn withstand a late Sarah Lawrence push.
Sarah Lawrence answered in the second set, jumping out to a 6-0 advantage and eventually taking a 25-13 decision to even the match at one set apiece.
The third set featured a back-and-forth battle. Sarah Lawrence built a late 20-16 advantage, but Brooklyn fought back to make it 24-24. The Bulldogs then scored the final two points to take the set, 27-25, and move ahead 2-1.
Reyes recorded two kills in the set, while Carroll and Okeke-Ziburkus each added four kills. Chisom Ogukwe was perfect offensively in the frame, recording two kills on two attacks.
Sarah Lawrence controlled the fourth set and opened a 17-11 advantage. Brooklyn continued to battle, cutting the deficit to 17-14 and later 20-17, but the Gryphons held on for a 25-20 win to force a fifth set.
Okeke-Ziburkus paced Brooklyn with seven kills in the fourth set, hitting .700 on 10 attacks. Reyes added three kills, while setter Rose Kory recorded eight assists.
Sarah Lawrence took control early in the deciding set, building an 8-4 lead before extending its advantage to 14-4. Brooklyn fought off one match point, but the Gryphons finished the match on the next rally for the 15-5 victory.
Okeke-Ziburkus finished with a team-high 22 kills, while Carroll added nine kills and Reyes contributed six kills. Kory finished with 32 assists, and libero Mila Servania recorded a team-high 47 digs.
For Sarah Lawrence, Nikolet Vataj led all players with 26 kills, while Caroline Combs added 20 kills. Setter Sophia Costa recorded 50 assists, and libero Kai Perkins registered 29 digs.
