MILWAUKEE, Wis. ? Sophomore Nikki Pierzchala (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview) and junior setter Sam Black (Atalissa, Iowa/West Liberty) each turned in double-doubles to lead the Braves, but Virginia Tech used a balanced attack to defeat Bradley 30-24, 30-25, 30-25 Friday afternoon at the Panther Invitational.

Pierzchala notched her team-leading third double-double of the year, finishing with 11 kills and 10 digs, while Black added 17 assists and 12 digs for her second double-double of the season. Sophomore Amy Reichel (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) collected 10 kills and hit .529 in the loss to the Hokies.

Game one, which featured 12 ties and five lead changes, was close until a late surge by Virginia Tech put the game out of reach. Bradley (1-8 overall) led 17-16 after a Pierzchala kill, but Virginia Tech countered with a four-point spurt to take a 20-17 lead. The Braves were trailing 24-22, before the Hokies used a 6-2 spurt to close out the game.

It appeared the Braves were en route to tie the game at one game apiece after taking a 24-18 lead in the second. Virginia Tech (6-3 overall) had other plans, however, going on a 12-1 run to post a 30-25 win. Amy Wengrenovich had three kills and one block assists, while Felicia Willoughby added two kills and one block assist to highlight the Hokies run.

Bradley had its best game offensively in the third game, hitting .292 as a team. Virginia Tech hit .281 as a team and rode the arm of Taylor Parrish to put the match away, however. Bradley was within three points at 23-20 after a Virginia Tech service error. Wengrenovich found the floor with a kill to push the lead to four and Parrish had back-to-back kills to extend the Hokies advantage to 26-20. The Braves pulled back to within three points at 26-23, before Parrish notched a pair of kills to once again push the lead to five points (28-23). Reichel and Virginia Tech's Kristen Cunningham each traded a pair of kills as the Hokies closed out the match with a 30-25 victory.

The Braves hit .147 for the match and outblocked Virginia Tech nine to six, but the Hokies hit .223 as a team and had three players in double figures in kills. Jen Albrecht led all players with a match-high 12 kills for Virginia Tech, while Cunningham and Parrish each added 11.

Bradley also had good balance offensively with both Pierzchala (11 kills) and Reichel (10 kills) reaching double figures. Senior Jenna Harrison (Edwardsville, Ill./Metro East Lutheran) added eight kills, while freshman Caitlin Staib (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) had seven kills and hit .353. Black and senior Eileen Hillary (Washington, Ill./Washington) tied for team-high honors with 17 assists, while sophomore Kaitlyn Comiskey (Lake Crystal, Ill./West) had 17 digs to lead the Braves defensively.

Bradley returns to action Saturday when they close out play at the Panther Invitational against tournament-host Wisconsin-Milwaukee at 1:30 p.m.