It’s all about momentum for the Bradley volleyball team.
A week after sweeping Indiana State, the Braves packed their brooms on the trip to Evansville as they completed their second consecutive series sweep to extend the team’s winning streak to four consecutive matches.
“I’m really proud of the girls for their grittiness and their willingness to stick to the game plan and really execute the game plan,” head coach Carol Price-Torok said. “I think that is overall the reason why we got to win.”
For the second time in her career, junior outside hitter Hannah Thompson was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week. Thompson put up her sixth and seventh double-doubles of the year while averaging 4.71 kills per set. She also moved up to 19th all-time on Bradley’s career kills list last weekend.
“I think she takes great pride in her game,” Price-Torok said. “She loves big moments and she’s really, really competitive.”
Sunday’s first two sets were smooth sailing for the most part. The Braves led for most of the first set as they jumped out to an 8-3 advantage to start the first frame. After the Aces closed to within 19-17, two kills from sophomore Karagan Coggin broke open the Braves lead to 21-18. After a 25-20 win in the second set, the Braves fell in the third set 25-18.
The fourth set began as if another one was slipping away from the Braves. After Evansville jumped out to a 17-10 lead, Bradley went on a 6-0 run to get back into the contest at 17-16. From then on, it was a see-saw contest. The Braves eventually evened the match at 23-23 after an Aces error. They then fought off two set points with a kill from Thompson and an Evansville serving error.
Another Evansville serving error and a kill by junior outside hitter Kat Poore capped a 27-25 set win to clinch a four-set victory.
Monday’s first set featured yet another roller coaster of a set. The Aces raced out to a 10-3 lead to begin the set and continued to lead by as much as nine points. Bradley then responded with a 6-2 run that got them within five at 20-15, but Evansville responded and held set point at 24-18. A service error then sparked a 6-0 Bradley run to tie the set at 24-all. The two teams traded blows and eventually tied the match at 27. After an Evansville error, Poore’s kill sealed a 29-27 Bradley win in a wild first set.
“To come back in some of the sets is pretty crazy, but I feel that’s overall how we play against Evansville,” Price-Torok said.
The Braves led for most of the second set. Jumping out to an 18-14 lead, Evansville used a 4-0 run to tie the set at 18. Bradley then responded with a 7-1 run to clinch the set 25-19. The third set was smooth sailing. Thompson’s six kills along with Coggin’s two kills and two blocks helped Bradley complete the three-set sweep with a 25-14 win in the third set.
Up next, Bradley turns its attention to a weekend series at home against Southern Illinois. The Salukis have struggled with a 1-7 conference record and 2-8 overall record on the season. The key to stopping SIU is to slow down their middle blockers and defend the outside.
“We’re going to have to be really great from the service line,” Price-Torok said. “They rotate some players in and out, they have a really good slide attacker in the middle.”
Despite SIU’s abysmal record, it’s still business as usual in preparations for this weekend.
“For us, it’s going to be preparing for their strong players and continuing to execute on the game plan,” Price-Torok said.
The first serve is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday at Renaissance Coliseum. Monday’s match is scheduled for 5 p.m.
