BREVARD, N.C. - LaGrange outlasted Brevard 3-1 on Sunday to remain unbeaten in the USA South. The Panthers (5-1, 4-0 USA South) took the match 25-23, 25-9, 25-27, and 25-20.

"Today's match was a nail-biter. Our defense was phenomenal," coach Madison Machurek. "We outshined their defense by 22 digs. Our attacker overcame adversity at the end of the first set and gained momentum for the rest of the match.

"We did not start strong, but we answered back during clutch moments. I am proud of these girls for performing when we needed it most."

The Panthers' attack was led by Ariel Modeste, Journey Oden, and McKenzie Richards. The trio combined for 35 of the team's 50 digs and an attack percentage of .412. Richards had a team-best 13 kills, Modeste had 12, and Oden 10. Modeste had a team-high .476 attack percentage. The team's .265 attack percentage was its second highest of the season.

Kirsten Boyd had a double-double of a match-best 36 assists and 14 digs. Bre Dufault had five assists and a match-high 19 digs. Bailey Moss added 12 digs. The Panthers had a 67-45 advantage in digs. 

The Panthers took a 12-7 lead in the first set with an 8-2 run. Brevard rallied, taking a late 22-20 lead. Three straight kills by Kaela Busby, Yasmin Roper, and Richards put LC up 23-22. A service error by the Panthers tied the set at 23. Richards put LC back up with a kill and a Tornado attack error gave the Panthers a 25-23 first set win.

The second set was all LC. Brevard got the first point of the set, but the Panthers ran off four straight points and were never threatened in taking a 2-0 lead in the match with the 25-9 win. LC had 11 kills and a .391 attack percentage in the set. Richards had five of her kills in the set.

The Tornados got back in the match with a 27-25 third set win. The set went back and forth. Trailing 23-21, the Panthers tied the set on a kill by Modeste and a Brevard attack error. LC tied it at 25 on a Brevard service error, but the Tornados closed out the set with a kill and service ace.

The Panthers trailed only once in the fourth set but it was tied eight times, the last at 13-13. Kills by Roper and Oden closed out a 4-0 run for a 17-13 lead. Another 4-0 run closed out the set and the match. A kill by Busby was followed by a service ace by Heidi Shrontz. After a Tornado attack error, Richards ended the match with her 13th and final kill.

The Panthers host Maryville in a USA South match Sunday. Maryville is 5-0 in conference play heading into a Tuesday match with Brevard.

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