PT. LOOKOUT, Mo. -- On the brink of forcing a fifth and deciding set, the Golden Eagles allowed a match-clinching run as the John Brown University volleyball team fell 3-1 (20-25, 25-19, 16-25, 24-26) on Wednesday night to College of the Ozarks (Mo.) inside Keeter Gymnasium.
The Golden Eagles (8-18, 4-14 Sooner Athletic) were led by freshman Kate Carlson's 14 terminations, with senior Emma-Kate Schaefer and freshman Reese Montgomery adding nine and eight kills, respectively. Montgomery recorded a team-leading three block-assists, and three of JBU's six aces, while freshman Clara Hyke added a solo rejection with a pair of assisted blocks.
Both setters saw action, with sophomore Tessa Burton posting the double-double with 18 assists and 11 digs, and freshman Taylor Kosmicki passing out 16 helpers in the setback.
John Brown hit over .300 in its lone set win of the evening, but finished the clash at a .157 mark (43-21-140). The host Bobcats (14-10, 9-9) countered with a .242 effort (61-23-157) and finished the season sweep of JBU.
The visitors never led in the first frame, falling into a quick 7-2 hole.
Similarly, three consecutive Carlson terminations helped build a fast 8-3 advantage for the Blue and Gold in the second set. College of the Ozarks never led as Carson piled up five of her team-leading 14 in the period.
The third set featured a match-high four ties and three lead changes, but a 9-1 Ozark run midway through converted a 13-12 John Brown lead into a 19-13 deficit as the hosts retook advantage of the match.
Holding a 14-8 lead in the fourth, Montgomery's four terminations largely paced the JBU offense, including back-to-back smacks that pushed the visitors to set point, 24-21. Coming out of a timeout, however, the Bobcats managed a 5-0 run to close out the match, powered by two JBU attacking errors and a pair of Bobcat blocks.
Freshman Paige Addington continued to patrol the back row to the tune of 23 digs.
The Golden Eagles continue its five-match road trip on Friday night (Oct. 31) when JBU takes on Southwestern Christian (Okla.) on the SAC Sports Network and the Urban Edge Network, live from Pickens-Springer Gymnasium. First serve is slated for 6 p.m.
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