BATESVILLE, Ark. -- A 7-2 fifth-set lead wouldn't hold as Lyon (Ark.) battled back from a 2-1 deficit in the match to upend the John Brown volleyball team (12-6) on Tuesday (Sept. 29), halting the Golden Eagles' two-game winning streak inside the Becknell Gymnasium.
JBU bolted out to an early 7-2 lead in the deciding fifth set after an Alyssa Arnold kill, but an 8-2 rally by the Scots placed them ahead 10-9 in the deciding set. Senior Melissa Bakke added a termination to halt the streak and tie the score at 10 before the teams battled to five more ties. Deadlocked at 15 apiece, Lyon finally grabbed the come-from-behind win with kills from Madison Sandborn and Camille Clem.
In a match that John Brown held a 2-1 lead in after three, the Golden Eagles again erupted to an early lead in the fourth set, this time 7-4. Eventually, Lyon clawed all the way back on a 9-6 run to tie the score at 13-all. A kill from Clem followed by a service ace gave the hosts a two-point lead and one it would never relinquish, breaking open a 16-14 score into a 22-16 advantage. Terminations from senior Audrey Dearien and freshman Bayli Reagan pulled JBU within four, 23-19, but that would be the closest the visitors would come.
Despite the 3-2 final (25-17, 15-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-17), Dearien led all players with 16 kills and completed the double-double with 11 digs on the evening. Senior Libby Blasingame contributed 11 kills and added four blocks while Bakke added another nine terminations in the loss. For the sixth time this season, sophomore Alyssa Arnold hit the 40-assist mark, dishing out a game-high 40 helpers to accompany 14 digs. Sophomore Beth Brankle notched a team-leading 24 digs.
With the win, Lyon (7-7) breaks a nine-match losing skid to JBU, dating back to Sept. 9, 2009. The Scots earned the win, despite being out-hit by John Brown (.245-.185) and committing 12 more attack errors (29-17). Serving hurt John Brown as the Golden Eagles committed 10 service errors and allowed the Scots to serve 13 aces on the night.
Makenzie Sharp and Katarina Frickleton paced Lyon with 13 kills each while Sandborn added eight in the win. Emily Sprick passed around a match-high 43 assists and Madisson Williams dug a game-high 27 balls.
The match started out well for the visitors as JBU hit .500 percent (13-0-26) in the first set, running away with a 25-17 score. Junior Karis Buff was dominant early, posting three kills as John Brown ran to a 9-3 lead. Errors hurt the Scot comeback attempt and a pair of Blasingame terminations built a 12-6 advantage for JBU. Just as Lyon managed to pull within seven, 20-13, three errors sent JBU to the win, capped off with a Bakke kill to end the set.
Five aces and five attack errors in the second set by the Golden Eagles helped the hosts run up a 20-9 lead. Finally Bakke and Blasingame teamed up for a rejection and Bakke added a pair of kills to accompany a service ace from freshman Bethany Maddox, forcing a 22-14 score. It wouldn't be enough, however, as Lyon closed out the set easily on a quick 3-1 run.
The Scots returned the favor in the third, committing 10 miscues on 33 attack attempts. Still the frame was littered with seven ties after JBU battled back from an early 5-0 hole. Down 16-14, a Lyon service error and a block from Blasingame and Buff knotted the score until another Scot error, coupled with a Blasingame smack, finished a set-clinching 4-0 rally. Lyon would pull within 19-18, but kills from Dearien and Blasingame put the set out of reach.
The Golden Eagles will return to action on Thursday (Oct. 1) when it returns to Sooner Athletic play by hosting St. Gregory's (Okla.) at 7 p.m. at Bill George Arena.
