Pioneers Fall to Lions Strong Attack

Pioneers Fall to Lions Strong Attack- Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 10/4/22

Crowley's Ridge hosted the Lions of Freed-Hardeman University for their 5th home game of the season. With the Pioneers being 3-1 at home they looked to defend their home court against a strong FHU attack. FHU would reach double digits in kills each set including a match high 20 kill effort in set two against the hosting Pioneers. The Lions power would prove too much for the Pioneers. CRC would fall in straight sets, 14-25, 17-25, and 13-25. 

Set one, CRC would produce its highest kill set of the matchup. They would kick things off with three consecutive kills by So. Paige Glenn, So. Alexis Weirich, and Jr. Hannah Halverson all with assists from reigning CAC setter of the week So. Jadyn Hesse. FHU answered with kills of their own and took the lead back from the Pioneers until Jr. Emi Elms' block would sway things in favor of the Pioneers, 7-6. Crowley's Ridge would not be able to build off this foundation as the Lions would seize a 6-0 run forcing a CRC timeout with them trailing 12-8. When play resumed CRC would find a couple kills from So. Hesse and Jr. Brooklynn Passmore but it wouldn't be enough to rally the Pioneers. FHU would continue their strong attack, ending set one with 18 kills and going on to take the set 25-14.

Set two, So. Weirich would get things going by winning CRC the first point of the set with a kill but Freed-Hardeman would keep the pressure on the Pioneer defense. The Lions hammered out a 6 point run on CRC retaking the lead 6-1. Again So. Weirich would step up and end the Lions streak with her second kill of the set. Crowley's Ridge looked to spark from Weirich's kills, but the Lions defense put an end to any CRC rally by stuffing the Pioneers at the net. FHU's attack would continue until So. Paige Glenn would create a second opportunity for the Pioneers with a big block cutting the deficit to 9-12. Even with this stop, it would not discourage  the Lions blitz from coming. FHU would end set two with a match high 20 kill effort defeating CRC 25-17.

Set three, CRC would see its longest run of the night going on a 4-0 run. It would happen in a critical time as CRC would fall behind the Lions early. This streak by CRC would cut the gap to a 5-6 trail with the help of a service ace from Fr. Kinley Matlock. As valiantly as Crowley's Ridge fought,  the Pioneers would not be able to retake the lead. The Lions would answer with their best hitting percentage performance of the night producing 15 kills on a .419 hitting percentage. The Pioneer defense would have several bright moments with long rallies thanks to Fr. Kinley Matlock and Jr. Heather Conaway who ended the night with double digits in digs but the power of FHU would prove too much. FHU would go on to win set three 25-13. 

Leaders:

So. Glenn led the Pioneers in kills (6). So. Hesse led the Pioneers in assists (18). Fr. Matlock led the Pioneers in digs (15), followed by Jr. Conaway (11). 

Next Up:

The Pioneers are looking to bounce back at home this weekend in the CAC Classic on Friday, October 7th & Saturday, October 8th. 

10/7/22- Iowa Wesleyan vs CRC 7:00pm

10/8/22- Haskell vs CRC- 11:00am

10/8/22- Florida College vs CRC 3:00pm