SILOAM SPRINGS -- Three Golden Eagles provided double-double efforts, and the John Brown University volleyball team got to work defensively, posting a season-high 107 digs in a four-set victory (25-15, 17-25, 25-19, 25-11) over Mid-America Christian (Okla.) on Thursday night (Sept. 22) inside Bill George Arena.
After a strong first set in which junior Savanna Riney produced five of her game-high 13 terminations, the visiting Evangels (10-7, 4-4 Sooner Athletic) squared the match at one apiece with a .255 attacking effort in the second set. John Brown (11-3, 6-1) absorbed the setback and responded with two impressive frames that saw the hosts hit .241 (26-6-83) in commanding fashion to improve to 3-0 in Siloam Springs this season.
"It was good to be back home in the friendly and loud confines of Bill George arena once again," head coach Ken Carver admitted. "I was proud of our team's effort and performance, and I thought our team did a good job of starting the match off strong and playing a really good first set.
"In the third set, we got back to where our focus and execution needed to be and the fourth set we stepped on the gas and closed the game well."
Senior Ellie Lampton (4 kills) and sophomore Callie Mullins (4 kills) carried the offensive workload in the third set, and seven Golden Eagles recorded terminations in the fourth, paced by four from Riney.
John Brown boasted a quartet of attackers that hit over .250, paced by Riney's 13 kills on 41 swings (.268), followed by Mullins at .292 and her 10 kills. Sophomore Taylor Golmen was especially efficient, swatting eight kills on 23 attempts (.304) and junior Micah Fouts contributed an error-free night with six kills on 23 chances (.261).
Defensively, however, the hosts dug 107 of MACU's 190 total attempts, limiting to visitors to a .111 total (44-23-190). Senior Jillian Blackman (34) eclipsed 30 scoops for the second time this season, while sophomore Julie Milligan produced a career-high 21 digs. Riney completed her double-double with 10 digs, and in the front row, Golmen and Fouts posted three block-assists each.
Both John Brown setters earned double-doubles, including senior Lauren Cloud's mark of 24 assists and 14 digs. Senior Morgan Fincham added 18 helpers and 15 scoops.
Cloie Mitchell led MACU with 10 kills, and Casady McKinney passed out 18 assists. Lena Stockhammer and Sarah Jones each threw up four blocks while Marlee Hunter absorbed 28 digs in the back row.
JBU continues to shine at home, hitting .098 better inside Bill George Arena (.271) than on the road (.173).
The Golden Eagles finish its short two-match home stand on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 24) when John Brown welcomes Science & Arts (Okla.) to Bill George Arena for a matinee face off. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the bout will air live on the SAC Sports Network.
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