Emalie Hicks
West Point, Ga. – The Bryan College Lions Volleyball team had their hands full Friday night as they took to the court in West Point Park Gymnasium, having to go head-to-head with a Point University Skyhawks’ squad that was rolling on a seven-game win streak and controlled a top-3 spot in the Appalachian Athletic Conference and No. 2 rank in the AAC Southern Division. The Lions had hoped to bring some of the momentum garnered after their previous five-set thrilling comeback victory against Tennessee Wesleyan University earlier in the week, but the soaring Skyhawks proved too tough to overcome as Point surged through three sets for the sweep, improving to a notable 14-5 overall record and 9-2 conference record.
The loss dropped Bryan’s overall record to 5-14 and AAC record to 4-5.
The opening set was a back-and-forth scuffle with Bryan eventually claiming a 14-13 lead over Point midway through, 14-13. A kill by the Skyhawks leveled the score 14-14 and was followed by an attack error from the Lions, allowing the home team to regain the advantage 15-14. Brooke Stowell rose up on the next play, providing a tremendous kill for Bryan, which tied the set 15-15. Unfortunately, it would be the last score for the Lions as the Skyhawks wouldn’t surrender a point for the duration of the set en route for 10 unanswered points, locking in a 25-15 decision in set number one.
Point continued to show why they were regarded as a top AAC school when the second set unfolded with the Skyhawks jumping ahead 8-3, followed by a series of four aces for a commanding 12-3 lead. Point would maintain a comfortable separation from Bryan with a 20-11 advantage, but the Lions kept the Skyhawks in check as they clawed their way to a 10-3 run, cutting the difference to two points at 23-21. A kill by Hope Burnett and an attack error by Point helped Bryan register another two scores, but the late rally wasn’t enough for the Lions as the Skyhawks narrowly won the second set 25-23 for a 2-0 edge in the match.
The third and final set looked positive for Bryan as they went out in front 4-1 to start the frame, prevented Point from piecing together any early significant runs, and led 16-15. Once again, the Skyhawks ended all hopes with another late rally as they turned a 16-15 advantage for the Lions into a 24-16 lead of their own. Point allowed kills by Emalie Hicks and Stowell before sealing the win 25-18 for the 3-0 sweep.
As a team, the Lions compiled 26 kills and .064 attack percentage, compared to the Skyhawks 44 kills and .164 average. Both Hicks and Anna Owens led Bryan with six kills apiece, trailed by Stowell’s five, and three notched by both Burnett and Mariah Dunlop. Veronica Salas posted all-around numbers with a pair of kills, six digs, and team-best 12 assists. Kristen Parrish was the Lion’s digs’ leader with 11 while also pitching in four assists.
Bryan remains on the road without a day off as they travel to AAC foe Reinhardt University (Ga.) on Saturday, Oct. 7 with game-time slated for 4:30pm.