ST. PAUL, Minn. (Sept. 8, 2023) - Senior Skylar Cole set a new career-high with 14 kills as junior Courtney Johnson followed with 10, but the Buena Vista volleyball team was edged in a heartbreaking four-set thriller on Friday night to begin play at the Macalester College Invite.

Cole, who had a pair of 12-kill performances, surpassed her previous career-best of 13 kills set in the early part of last season. She had just five attack errors on 38 total attempts. Defensively, she chipped in with five total blocks. Johnson was also efficient on the attack with only four errors and 26 total attempts and led the way with seven total blocks. 

Kyla Vaughn, playing in only her third match this season, registered a career-best eight kills on 18 total attempts. She entered the match without a single kill this season on five total swings. Rachel Brockney and Hope Vanderlinden followed with seven kills each with Brockney also adding 15 digs and four ace serves.

Jilly Janssen dished out a career-best 39 assists and chalked up her fourth double-double by adding 10 digs. Molly Bense led the Beavers with 17 digs. The Beavers posted double-digit kills in each set in the match and finished with a .139 overall attack percentage. 

In the opening set, Macalester jumped out and built an early five-point lead and maintained that margin throughout. BVU slowly clawed its way back and eventually held a late 23-22 lead but came up short in an opening-set thriller, 26-24. The Beavers did bounce back in a big way in the second where it posted 10 kills while taking advantage of 10 attack errors by Macalester en route to a commanding 25-15 victory.

The two teams battled it out in the final two sets. The host team faced set point at 24-22 but BVU rallied to tie the set at 24-24 thanks to back-to-back attack errors. The rally fell just short, however, as Macalester again won 26-24. The Beavers looked to forced a decisive fifth set by leading 24-21 in the fourth only to see Macalester roll off five straight points, including three kills by Grace Watkins.

Buena Vista dips to 2-4 overall and continues play on Saturday with matches against Minnesota-Morris (11 a.m.) and Carleton College (3 p.m.).