SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- In a tight four-set affair, the John Brown University volleyball team clawed its way to a thrilling 3-1 victory (25-22, 25-23, 24-26, 25-15) over the College of the Ozarks (Mo.) Wednesday night (Sept. 18) at Bill George Arena.
The Golden Eagles improved to 4-9 overall and 3-2 in conference play, while the Bobcats dropped to 5-5 overall and 2-3 in SAC action.
John Brown University's offense was spearheaded by senior Savanna Riney, who posted a match-high 15 kills on 42 attempts, hitting at a .286 clip. She was supported by Taylor Golmen, who was a force at the net with 9 kills on 27 attempts, hitting .333 and contributing significantly on both sides of the ball with three blocks (1 solo, 2 assists). Defensively, Julie Milligan anchored the backcourt with a match-high 25 digs, while senior Emma DeSanti orchestrated the attack with 23 assists and added 14 digs of her own for the double-double.
The third set saw 13 ties and eight lead changes, and College of the Ozarks capitalized on several unforced errors by the Golden Eagles, edging out a 26-24 win to keep the match alive. However, JBU regained momentum in the fourth set, dominating from the service line and at the net.
In the fourth, John Brown secured a decisive win, hitting .256 as a team with 13 kills and only three errors on 39 attempts. The Golden Eagles broke away early with an 7-1 run after the score was tied 1-1, fueled by kills from junior Emma-Kate Schaefer and senior Erin Mullins, as well as service aces from senior Grace Barfknecht and Milligan. Golmen contributed three of her nine total kills in the set, while Riney added another trio of terminations. JBU's defense held College of the Ozarks to a .024 hitting percentage, forcing eight attack errors. Milligan collected eight of her 25 scoops in the frame, helping JBU maintain control and close out the match.
In the first two sets, JBU managed to fend off multiple rallies from the Bobcats. Both sets were closely contested, with the Golden Eagles maintaining composure late in each frame to secure 25-22 and 25-23 victories. The Bobcats' offense, led by Bri Linehan's 13 kills, put pressure on JBU's defense, but set-ending kills from junior Ella Yarborough and Riney in the first and second sets, respectively, built a commanding 2-0 lead for the hosts.
"I'm proud of our players for their effort in earning a hard-fought victory against a scrappy College of the Ozarks team," noted head coach Ken Carver. "Despite a long road weekend and a busy week ahead, they didn't show any weariness in their performance. We focused on serving more aggressively and improving our first ball contact in practice, and it paid off. After a few early serving errors, the team found the right balance, leading to one of our most balanced offensive performances.
"Savanna, Emma-Kate, and Taylor all had standout games offensively, while Julie, Emma, and Grace excelled defensively with season-best digs. Although C of O extended the match, we finished strong in the fourth set, controlling the game and limiting their runs. It was a well-earned win that sets the tone for the rest of the week."
The Bobcats, despite the loss, had notable contributions from Brooklyn Crawford and Linehan, who tallied 10 and 13 kills, respectively. Libero Mica Chadwell added a match-high 32 digs, helping keep her team within striking distance in the first two sets. However, College of the Ozarks struggled with offensive consistency, hitting only .102 as a team and committing 31 attack errors.
John Brown recorded 6.0 team blocks to the Bobcats' 7.0, with JBU hitting .186 as a team and collecting 54 kills on 172 total attempts. The Golden Eagles minimized errors in the final set to close out the match convincingly, limiting the Bobcats to a .024 hitting percentage in the final frame.
With a win in its first of a three match homestand, JBU will look to extend the momentum when the Golden Eagles continue SAC play on Friday night (September 20) and face Mid-America Christian (Okla.) in a 7 p.m. first serve live on the SAC Sports Network.
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