SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Three Golden Eagles recorded a double-double and freshman Molli Pugh notched a career-high 14 kills as John Brown (12-16, 6-4 SAC) overcame a two-game deficit to defeat Texas Wesleyan (14-16, 6-5 SAC), 3-2 (21-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-17, 15-13), tonight at Bill George Arena.
Pugh led the way with a team-high 14 kills and 15 digs to accompany her three blocks. Junior Vanessa Uhrhahn also had a career night, setting a career highs in kills (11), digs (10) and blocks (6), en route to her first career double-double. She also chipped in with six blocks, including two of her own. Senior Kailey Bain also posted her seventh double-double of the season, landing 12 digs and dishing out a match-high 26 helpers.
"I'm very proud of the ladies' effort tonight," admitted head coach Stacie Johnson. "We showed great resolve tonight. Although we need to improve on adjusting mid-game to gain an edge on our opponents, we were able to focus over the final three games."
John Brown seemed down and out as Wesleyan took a commanding 2-0 lead with 25-21 and 25-23 victories in the first two sets. A Tiffany Hunnicutt kill handed JBU a 14-11 lead in game one, but Wesleyan answered with a 9-4 run to create enough separation to win the set. The second stanza also featured a close set, 15-14 in favor of TWU, but two Golden Eagle errors allowed the Lady Rams to capture eight of the next 14 points, landing a 23-20 lead and ultimately the win.
The third set exhibited a different John Brown squad. TWU had earned the advantage in hitting percentage through the first two sets, but JBU was able to reverse its fortunes, prolonging the match to a fourth game. After two early ties, the visitors employed four Golden Eagle errors to build an 8-4 lead before JBU roared back to knot the score at 11 apiece. Two Melissa Bakke kills spurred JBU on the 7-3 run as she posted a team-high four kills in the frame. Another pair of Bakke spikes keyed the hosts to a 23-18 advantage, but the Lady Rams wouldn't go easily, forcing a three-point disparity before a service error cost the visitors the set.
It was all Golden Eagles in the fourth set as Bakke, Pugh and freshman Shayna Daniels each posted a trio of kills, pushing JBU to a .407-.091 hitting percentage advantage. Four Wesleyan errors powered John Brown to a convincing 8-1 lead before Becca Young's service ace pushed the score another point. Boasting an 11-3 advantage, both squads traded points throughout the middle portions of the set. Up by nine (20-11), the Golden Eagles allowed Wesleyan to stick around as the visitors posted six of the next 10 points. However, a resounding Uhrhahn strike closed out the set, 25-17, forcing a fifth and deciding set.
The Bill George Arena spectators were treated to a dramatic fifth set as the teams combined for four ties and five lead changes. Down 4-1, JBU rallied to force a tie when Pugh and Daniels launched back-to-back kills that preceded a Wesleyan error. Two John Brown errors led to another deficit, but again the freshman tandem of Pugh and Daniels forced yet another deadlock. TWU then seemed to steal the momentum by earning a 10-7 advantage. Uhrhahn had other plans.
A pair of Uhrhahn spikes forced yet another tie, 10-10, before the Lady Rams responded with three consecutive points of its own. Wesleyan seemed to finally have the match in hand before an unprecedented 5-0 run was led by a trio of Erin McIlroy kills, leading the Golden Eagles to a clinching 15-13 victory.
The Golden Eagles rejected 15 would-be Lady Ram kills on the night, setting a season-high. Joining Uhrhahn with six put-backs was Libby Blasingame's solo stuff and five assists. McIlroy also finished with six blocks, all helpers. The hosts out-blocked Wesleyan 15-9 on the evening.
Senior Staci Williamson led the defensive effort for JBU, scooping up a career-high 36 digs. Daniels finished the match with 25 assists.
John Brown will get little time to celebrate the victory as Southwestern A.G. (Texas) invades Bill George arena tomorrow (Oct. 26) afternoon. Sporting a 7-5 conference record, the Lady Lions sit fourth in the SAC standings as the Golden Eagles will have an opportunity to match SAGU for the fourth seed in the conference.
