PELLA, Iowa (Sept. 2, 2022) - The Buena Vista volleyball team picked up wins over Concordia (Minn.) and Greenville, respectively, on Friday night, as the team began play inside of Kuyper Gymnasium on day one of the Grinnell College / Central College Invite.

Against the Cobbers, it was a pair of thrilling sets to begin the match, but the Beavers were able to hang on and pick up 25-23 and 29-27 victories, respectively.  The team then closed out the match with a 25-16 win in the third.  Junior Skylar Cole led the way with 10 kills while Rachel Brockney added nine kills and a team-leading 20 digs.  As a team, BVU posted a match-high 14 kills in the opening set before adding 11 kills and only three attack errors in the third.

Against Greenville, which was 24-7 and qualified into the NCA Tournament a season ago, BVU came out strong by again winning the first two sets by scores of 25-20 and 25-15.  The Panthers did keep the match alive with a 25-20 win in the third before the Beavers bounced back to close out the match with a 25-21 triumph.

Cole again led the charge offensively for BVU, posting a career-high in kills for the second straight match - this time with 13.  Sophomore Courtney Johnson also had 13 kills to go along with five service aces and a pair of blocks.  

Senior setter Taylor Wedemeyer dished out a combined 74 assists on the day and posted a double-double with 43 assists and 15 digs to wrap up the day against Greenville.

Buena Vista (2-0) will turn right around and be back on the court on Saturday with a pair of matches now being played at Grinnell College.  The Beavers take on Bethany Lutheran College at 11:00 a.m. before wrapping up the opening weekend at 3:00 p.m. against St. Mary's University (Minn.)