STORM LAKE, Iowa (Sept. 10, 2024) - Buena Vista fifth-year Rachel Brockney posted her third straight double-double by registering a match-high 14 kills to go along with 13 digs to help lead the Beaver volleyball team to a thrilling five-set home victory over Martin Luther on Tuesday night.

It was a bit of a rocky start for the Beavers in the opening set as the Knights scored the first four points of the match and eventually built their largest lead of 21-12. BVU didn't shy away and rolled off four straight to make it 21-16, but the surge was too-little-too-late as Martin Luther came away with a 25-16 victory.

The Beavers bounced back in a convincing way in the second set where it chalked up 12 kills and only two attack errors while forcing the Knights into nine attack errors. A kill by sophomore Jadyn Rausch broke a 5-5 tie and sparked a 5-1 run that made it 10-6. The momentum continued as the Beavers strung together seven straight points, which included a pair of kills from Grace Coble as well as three straight attack errors by the Knights, and led 20-10. Martin Luther got back as close as 21-18 but the Beavers ended that run by scoring the final four points to win 25-18.

BVU came out in the third set and built a 10-8 advantage but the Knights responded midway through with an 8-2 spurt that put them out in front, 19-14, as they went on to win 25-17.

With the Knights trying to ended the match in four sets, the two teams went back-and-forth early in the set as Martin Luther was clinging to a 9-8 lead. Brockney then added a pair of kills for the Beavers, and Rausch back-to-back service aces, during a pivotal 7-1 run that gave the team a 15-10 advantage. BVU later extended it to a 20-14 cushion before forcing the decisive fifth set with a 25-17 triumph.

The Beavers took control out of the gate in the final set, building an 8-2 lead as the team's switched sides. Despite the Knights scoring a pair of quick points to get within 8-4, it was all BVU from there en route to a 15-6 win and the team's first home win in two matches this season.

Brockney took 48 total swings in the match and finished with a .146 attack percentage. Junior Kyla Vaughn and sophomore Sydney Meints each followed Brockney with 10 kills with Vaughn registering a .381 attack mark. BVU finished with 47 overall and a .166 clip.

Rausch dished out a season-high 36 assists and posted 10 digs and three ace serves. Junior Mallory Ignaszewski turned in 15 digs, Ramirez added 12 digs, three ace serves and had two of the team's four solo blocks.

Lauren Paulsen helped lead the charge for the Knights (3-6) with 13 kills and 13 digs.

Buena Vista improves to 3-7 overall and heads to the Augustana Viking Classic in Rock Island, Ill., on Sept. 13-14. The team will begin play on Friday against DePauw (5 p.m.) and Augustana (7 p.m).