SILOAM SPRINGS -- Holding the Lions to a .141 attack efficiency through the first two sets, the John Brown University volleyball team leapt out to a 2-0 advantage, but ultimately fell in five (25-23, 25-22, 16-25, 19-25, 10-15) to No. 8 Southwestern A.G. (Texas) on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 5) inside Bill George Arena.
The Sooner Athletic's top offense generated a .259 offensive effort through the first two sets, as the Golden Eagles sent SAGU into a 2-0 hole for the first time in 2022 and forced the visiting Lions (29-0, 20-0 Sooner Athletic) to play five sets for the first time in 23 matches, dating back to Aug. 26.
The matchup produced 23 ties and 14 lead changes, with nine ties and eight lead changes coming in the second frame alone.
Three Golden Eagles (21-8, 14-6) finished with double-digit kills, led by the league's top terminator, junior Savanna Riney. She finished the afternoon with 18 kills on 40 swings (.375), followed by sophomore Taylor Golmen's, the SAC's most efficient hitter, 10 terminations on 27 chances (.259). Junior Delaney Barnes added 10 kills as well in the JBU setback.
The hosts finished the afternoon attacking at a .212 clip (58-23-165) as the senior combination of Lauren Cloud and Morgan Fincham passed out 27 and 23 assists, respectively.
On defense, sophomore Julie Milligan posted 21 digs, leading a trio of defenders. Riney added 14 scoops in the back row to complete her 18th double-double of the season. In the front row, Riney boasted three solo blocks, with junior sophomore Lilly Ruston adding three individual rejections of her own – including a pair of block-assists. Golmen added four block-assists, with Barnes adding a trio of stops at the net.
The difference in the match came down to the serving game. The Golden Eagles served up five aces, but misfired seven times. The Lions, meanwhile, produced 18 aces – its second-most in a match this season – and committed just six errors at the line. Between the JBU errors and the SAGU aces, the visitors enjoyed a set's worth of points at the service line.
Ava Myers paced the Lion offense with 18 kills, with Riley Burcham passing out 45 assists on SAGU's 58 total kills. Myers and Lilly Hannah posted five blocks apiece, and Tessa Glick scooped up 25 in the back row and generated eight of SAGU's 18 service aces.
The Golden Eagles now move to postseason action and, by virtue of finishing third overall in the league's final standings, will welcome the six seed, Oklahoma City, back to Bill George Arena for the second time this season in the Sooner Athletic tournament quarterfinal round. Airing live on the SAC Sports Network, first service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday evening (Nov. 8).
FOLLOW THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Don't miss a minute of the latest action surrounding JBU Athletics by following the Golden Eagles on Twitter (@JBUathletics), Instagram (@JBUathletics) and Facebook (/JBUathletics). Catch every Golden Eagle home game and select away games on the SAC Sports Network, available online or for download on your favorite streaming device.
