COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Sophomore Savanna Riney led the Golden Eagles with 14 kills in the first match, while freshman Julie Milligan posted 13 terminations in the second matchup as the John Brown University volleyball defeated Culver-Stockton (Mo.) before falling to host Columbia (Mo.) on Friday (Aug. 27) inside the Southwell Complex.
The Golden Eagles (3-3) used a .429 (18-3-35) efficiency in the second set to take a commanding 2-0 lead over the Wildcats before wrapping up the contest in the fourth, 25-20, 27-25, 20-25, 25-14.
Freshman Callie Mullins added eight kills and Milligan seven in the JBU victory, while sophomore Delaney Barnes hit an impressive .438 (7-0-16) on the afternoon.
Defensively, junior Jillian Blackman paced the squad with 13 scoops as the front line boasted 12 block-assists, keeping Culver-Stockton from producing much offense in the final two sets. CSC managed just a -.015 (16-17-67) efficiency in the last two games.
Riney's kill broke open a 25-all tie in the second before a CSC error ended the second frame. Two services aces from junior Morgan Fincham – who also dished out 18 assists in the contest – powered a 9-0 Golden Eagle rally in the lopsided fourth-set affair. Junior Lauren Cloud added 27 helpers in the victory.
In the nightcap, John Brown and perennial powerhouse Columbia battled through two sets tied at one apiece, with each team winning their respective set 25-23. But the third and fourth games were all Cougars as John Brown finished hitting .069 (14-10-58) in the final two sets as CC took twin 25-15 victories.
Milligan was JBU's lone double-digit termination producer, while Cloud and Fincham passed 17 and 14 assists, respectively. The Golden Eagles again posted 6.0 team blocks, but 14 service errors plagued the Blue and Gold throughout the contest.
Cloud and Blackman each posted 17 digs in the setback.
JBU will return to action on Saturday (Aug. 28) when it faces a pair of ranked opponents in Ottawa (Kan.) and Central Methodist (Mo.) in early-day action.
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