Bragg Surpasses 2,000 Assists in Thrilling Win at No. 25 Bethel

MISHAWAKA, Ind. – Kacy Bragg became the 10th player in the rich history of the Taylor volleyball program to reach the 2,000-assist mark, tossing up a career-high 55 assists to help TU edge No. 25 Bethel on Saturday afternoon. The win was Taylor's first over a nationally ranked foe since sweeping No. 20 Indiana Wesleyan on September 8, 2017.

The Trojans wasted no time getting back into the win column after having their 11-match win streak snapped on Friday evening inside Odle Arena, going on the road to pull out a 25-23, 21-25, 28-26, 23-25, 15-10 victory over the Pilots (14-2, 3-1 CL).

Taylor battled back from a 15-10 deficit to take the opening set and scored the final three points of the third set on successive kills from Jaylynn Dunsmore, Ryan Czerniak and Amanda Adams. In the fifth set, Taylor led throughout and closed strong once again, this time scoring the final three points on back-to-back slams from Czerniak and a service ace from Stephaney Fifield.

Just as the Trojans closed their sets well, the squad got stronger throughout the match, hitting .311 over the final three sets with 45 kills and just 13 miscues in sets three, four and five.

Bragg led the way with a 55-assist, 11-dig, six-kill, two-ace and two-block gem, tossing up at least 50 assists for the second time this season and collecting the 12th double-double showing in 15 matches this season. The junior setter closed the contest with 2,017 career assists and as TU's first player to reach 2,000-career assists since Haley Harrell reached that mark in 2017.

Bragg was not alone in having a career-day on the court for Taylor, with Czerniak and Dunsmore each tattering the Bethel defense for career-high tallies in kills. Czerniak posted 21 kills on a .447 clip and Dunsmore added 12 kills and a .429 percentage.

Adams and Grace Isaacs also cracked double figures in kills, combining for 22 and Adams also recorded 11 digs, two aces and two blocks. Fifield finished with 28 digs and Nikki Parrett ended with 13 digs.

Taylor (13-2, 3-1 CL) will return to action on Wednesday, when it hosts Goshen (3-12, 0-4 CL) at 7:30 pm. TU head coach Erin Luthy will enter that match with 99 career victories.