Volleyball Drops Matches to Oklahoma Wesleyan and Philander Smith

Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director

            Conway, Ark. – Playing at home for the first time this season, Central Baptist College volleyball hosted the Eagles of Oklahoma Wesleyan and the Panthers of Philander Smith College today at A.R. Reddin Fieldhouse. CBC (1-5) struggled against Oklahoma Wesleyan (15-1), dropping the match 3-0 by scores of 20-25, 17-25 and 12-25 but came back and nearly defeated PSC (5-3), taking the Panthers to five sets before losing 3-2 by scores of 19-25, 14-25, 25-19, 25-23, 11-15.

            Madeline Freeman had another double-double in the second match, her third of the season, while Molly Murphy had a season-high in assists and Mallory Gossett posted a career-high in digs against PSC. The Mustangs also crossed the 50 kill and 50 assist mark for the first time this season in the second match as well.

MATCH ONE – OWU 3, CBC 0

            Hitting percentage was the story of match one, as the Eagles hit .329 on 36 kills while CBC hit .063 on 30 kills. Kenzie Hanks guided the way with nine kills while Murphy had 13 assists and Gossett led with eight digs.

MATCH TWO – PSC 3, CBC 2

            Philander Smith cruised through the first two sets, hitting .357 in set one and .214 in set two. The Mustangs fought back though, winning the third and fourth sets to force a decisive fifth set. In set five, the teams traded the first eight points and the score was four-all after eight rallies. PSC would take a 5-4 lead after that and never relinquish it, despite CBC getting to within 12-11 following back-to-back kills by Caitlyn Miller and Freeman. Unfortunately, PSC would win the final three points of the match and close out the win. Hanks and Freeman were the co-kills leader with 16 apiece, while Murphy had 30 assists and Freeman added 16 of her own. Gossett and Mikayla Lawrence both finished in double figures in digs, with Gossett posting 16 and Lawrence making 11, barely missing her first double-double after finishing with a career-best nine kills.

UP NEXT

            CBC gets a day of rest tomorrow and returns to the floor at Reddin Fieldhouse on Thursday night for a contest against the Pioneers of Crowley's Ridge College. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. and you can find coverage of the match if you follow us on social media and visit us on the web!