MIDWAY, Ky. -- Following two dominating wins over Alice Lloyd (Ky.) and Welch (Tenn.), the Midway University women's volleyball team stepped it up a notch on Friday night when they hosted Brescia (Ky.) in Marshall Gymnasium to open River States Conference play.

The Eagles came out firing as they won the first set only to see the Bearcats battle back and take set two and tie the match at one. Midway, however, regained momentum winning set three and then taking set four to win the match 3-1 (25-21, 24-26, 25-20, 25-22).

With the win, Midway improves to 3-1 overall as start off league play at 1-0, while it is their first win over the Bearcats since 2014 snapping a 10-match losing skid. Brescia, meanwhile, falls to 1-1 overall and 1-1 in RSC play following the loss.

The Blue and Gold didn't have the offensive output that they've had in previous matches, but they took advantage of Brescia's miscues and made timely plays to come away with the win.

Trailing 18-16 in the first frame, Midway closed the set on a 9-3 run for the 25-21 win. Brescia misfired on three serves in the stretch, while Alysha Tullar (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and Raegan Stevens (Ashland, Ky.) each served one ace each.

After Midway failed to convert a set point in set two, Brescia responded and tied the match at one set apiece, but Midway regrouped and got back on track in the third stanza.

A kill from Jessica Molestina put the Bearcats up 11-7, but Midway responded with a thunderous kill from Kaylee Criswell (Rockdale, Texas) giving the Eagles their largest lead of the set at 22-17. Tullar then sealed the 25-20 win with a kill from the outside.

The fourth frame was nip-and-tuck until Midway pulled away with a 9-2 run after the set was tied at 12 apiece. Brescia rallied and cut the deficit to three with a quick 6-1 run, but a kill from Criswell followed by back-to-back kills from Tullar sealed the set and wrapped up the 3-1 win.

Tullar led the offensive attack with 13 kills to go with her seven digs, while Criswell put together her best performance in a Midway uniform thus far. The sophomore transfer went for seven kills in 12 swings, while she added two solo blocks and two block assists. Brinley Griswold (Ashland, Ky.), meanwhile, added six kills in 13 swings.

Annessa Roysdon (Monticello, Ky.) and Madi Eberst (Chillicothe, Ohio) split time running the offense as they finished with 16 and 15 assists, respectively. Roysdon added seven digs and Eberst served a match-high five aces in the win.

Mariana Rodriguez (Houston, Texas) led the defensive effort with a match-high 15 digs, while Brooke Trompler (Campton, Ky.) carded 10.

Jonea Rima's team will look to continue their win streak and push it to four on Saturday when they host IU Southeast (Ind.) at noon ET in Marshall Gymnasium.

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