Ali - Frazier, Norton - Holmes; and now Berea College and UC-Clermont join the ranks of great heavy weight battles that lived up to the hype.  Berea ranked #8 and UCC ranked #7 squared off today in the Cougar Dome in Batavia and it was indeed a knock down, drag-out fight by two worthy opponents.

It didn't look good for BC as the Cougars had their way early and cruised to a 25-19 victory in set one.  The Mountaineers clawed their way back into the match winning the second set 25-22, before dropping the third set by the same score.  The fourth set is when the fight reached its fever pitch.  Both teams battled for every point with neither team taking more than a three point lead at any time, before Berea put down the 27th and final point of the set. 

The fifth set was more of the same.  UCC jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the game to 15.  Berea came right back going up 3-2, before assuming control with an 8-5 side change.  The Mountaineers stretched that lead out to 10-6, and then traded points the rest of the way to secure the victory.

Berea was led offensively by Taylor Ashworth who blasted 18 kills, picked up 17 digs and racked up four service aces.  Megan Keller and Claire Mueller fueled the BC offense dishing out 30 and 25 assists respectively.

Defensively, it took a group effort to stop one of the nations elite offenses - Kyra Robinson blocked eight balls, while Kaitlynne Smith rejected six.  Sydney Short corralled 23 Cougar shots, while Nicole Baker picked up 17 others.

The Mountaineers will look for their third win in a row when they host former KIAC rival Alice Lloyd College on Tuesday in Seabury Gymnasium at 6:00 pm.