SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. – In a commanding display, the John Brown University volleyball team secured its third-straight sweep (25-18, 25-11, 25-10), this time over Central Christian (Kan.) on Saturday evening (Oct. 5) inside Bill George Arena.
The Golden Eagles improved its season record to 9-10 overall and 8-3 in conference action, while the Tigers dropped to 1-16 and 1-10 in SAC competition. JBU stands alone in third place after the completion of the first round of the double-round robin league format.
John Brown set the tone early with a balanced attack and sharp defense, posting a team hitting percentage of .388 (38-5-85) while holding the Tigers to a mere -.021 (22-24-95). The Golden Eagles capitalized on consistent serving pressure and effective blocking, tallying nine service aces and 14 block assists. Sophomore Kailana Chamnongchith led the way at the service line, firing three aces, while Julie Milligan added 19 digs to anchor the defensive effort.
While the first set featured eight ties and five lead changes before a set-clinching 8-1 run, the Golden Eagles conceded just one tie and one lead change the rest of the way.
"Another great win to close out our Homecoming homestand," said head coach Ken Carver. "Central Christian came out of the gate hot, well-prepared with an initial game plan that challenged us. It took our team a bit to get dialed in, but once we did, we took control of the match and played at a very high level.
"We executed well in all facets of the game. Each front row player had an attack efficiency at or above .250, and our setters did an excellent job of moving the ball around and putting our attackers in favorable positions to score. We also disrupted their offense with aggressive serving and blocked well from the end of the first set onward, which gave us momentum and led to big score differentials in the final two sets."
Senior outside hitter Savanna Riney spearheaded John Brown University's offensive efforts, delivering a match-high nine kills on 18 attempts while hitting an impressive .500. Senior Taylor Golmen smacked nine terminations of her own from the middle and finished with a .389 clip, while senior Lilly Ruston contributed an astounding six kills on just seven swings (.857).
On the defensive side, Milligan finished 10-for-12 on the serve-receive to accompany the match-high effort of 19 digs. At the net, Mullins led all Golden Eagles with five rejections—one solo block and four block assists—effectively shutting down the Tigers' attack.
"From the end of the first set and beyond, our blocking helped frustrate CCCK's attack and gave us additional momentum, which carried us to big score differentials in the final two sets," Carver added. "I'm proud of our players for the well-rounded and well-executed match they played this afternoon in securing our second straight-set sweep of the weekend."
Chamnongchith and junior Emma DeSanti orchestrating the offense with 13 and 14 assists, respectively, leading JBU to its season-best hitting percentage. JBU improved to 6-0 on the season when attacking at a .200 efficiency or better.
The Golden Eagles will return to the court next week as they travel to face Oklahoma City inside Abe Lemons Arena on Friday (Oct. 11). First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will air live on the SAC Sports Network, for a fee.
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.
