FT. WORTH, Texas -- Freshman Reese Montgomery threw up a career-best eight block assists, but the Golden Eagles again struggled finding offensive efficiency as the John Brown University volleyball team fell 3-1 (25-20, 24-26, 18-25, 19-25) at Texas Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 20) inside the Sid Richardson Center.
Sophomore Federica Ferrari launched a team-leading 11 kills on 37 attempts (.108) and freshman Paige Addington scooped up 23 digs in the back row, but the Golden Eagles (6-8, 2-4 Sooner Athletic) fell in its third-consecutive match to close out a four-game road trip. Addington also added five aces in the setback.
The first set featured nine ties, but while tied at 15, a pair of Ram errors and kills from freshman Kate Carlson and Ferrari helped churn a quick 4-1 run that gave the visitors a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Junior Akayla Kador continued her strong blocking weekend with a solo rejection and a pair of block-assists in the front row, setting up Ferrari's set-clinching kill to hand the Blue and Gold a 1-0 advantage.
The Blue and Gold had Texas Wesleyan (10-4, 7-0) on the ropes in the second, but with set point, John Brown allowed the hosts to rattle off four consecutive points to convert a 24-22 deficit into a 26-24 victory. The second frame featured a match-high five lead changes.
Over the final two sets, JBU could only force one lead change as Wesleyan rode the momentum to the four-set win.
The Rams hit a .134 (46-27-142) to the Golden Eagles' .068 (41-31-147), but John Brown served up nine aces in comparison to TXWES' five. After hitting .162 in the first set, the Blue and Gold was limited to .036 (30-26-110) over the final trio of sets.
Sophomore setter Tessa Burton and freshman Taylor Kosmicki both captained the Golden Eagle offense, with Burton leading the way with 18 assists and Kosmicki contributed 13 of her own.
JBU was a force at the net, totaling a season-best 12.0 blocks. In the front row, Kador posted two solo blocks and two assists, while Ferrari and freshman Clara Hyke each contributed three assisted rejections.
The Golden Eagles now return home for a five-match homestand, slated to begin Wednesday evening (Sept. 24) against rival College of the Ozarks (Mo.) at 6 p.m. JBU will then face Science & Arts (Okla.) and Mid-America Christian (Okla.) over the weekend before welcoming Oklahoma City and Southwestern Christian (Okla.) to Siloam Springs the following weekend. All matches can be streamed live on the SAC Sports Network or on the Urban Edge Network.
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